“Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age... and eternal life in the age to come.” (Mk.10:29-30)
What is the best investment you can make with your life? Mark’s gospel presents us with a paradox. We lose what we keep and gain what we give away. When we lose our lives for Christ, we gain a priceless treasure and an inheritance which lasts forever. Whatever we give to God comes back a hundredfold.
What is the best investment you can make with your life? Mark’s gospel presents us with a paradox. We lose what we keep and gain what we give away. When we lose our lives for Christ, we gain a priceless treasure and an inheritance which lasts forever. Whatever we give to God comes back a hundredfold.
Right after the wealthy young man (Mk 10: 17-22) refused Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, Peter rather crudely wanted to know what he and the other disciples would get because they had given up everything to follow Him. Jesus spoke with utter honesty. Those who left everything for His sake, would receive a hundred times more in this life as well as unending life in the age to come.
It is easy to feel what Peter and the other disciples were feeling. In a community as large as BLD, there always seems to be so much to do and never enough workers in the vineyard. Some members feel stretched to the limit and wonder what to do. Many are asked to help but feel unready or not gifted to do God’s work.
It is only with faith and trust in God that we can follow Christ. When we accept the challenges of spreading the Good News, we will receive all we need from God through the Holy Spirit. When we let go of our insecurities and allow God’s power to flow through us, only then can we accomplish God’s work, not only in community, but everywhere He sends us.
Jesus promised His disciples the blessings and joy of rich fellowship with the community of believers. No earthly goods or possessions can rival the joy of knowing God and the peace He grants His disciples. Jesus never said that following Him would be easy or that it would bring recognition. Most of the time the opposite happens. But the Lord wants to fill our hearts with the vision of heaven and with His joy and peace.
We have been called to this community by God for a reason. The reason may be different for each of us, but the one truth is that God needs each and every one of us to bring His message to others.
Let our prayer be, “Lord I want to follow You as your disciple and to love You wholeheartedly with all that I have. Fill my heart with faith, hope and love that I may always find peace and joy in Your presence. Amen!”
It is easy to feel what Peter and the other disciples were feeling. In a community as large as BLD, there always seems to be so much to do and never enough workers in the vineyard. Some members feel stretched to the limit and wonder what to do. Many are asked to help but feel unready or not gifted to do God’s work.
It is only with faith and trust in God that we can follow Christ. When we accept the challenges of spreading the Good News, we will receive all we need from God through the Holy Spirit. When we let go of our insecurities and allow God’s power to flow through us, only then can we accomplish God’s work, not only in community, but everywhere He sends us.
Jesus promised His disciples the blessings and joy of rich fellowship with the community of believers. No earthly goods or possessions can rival the joy of knowing God and the peace He grants His disciples. Jesus never said that following Him would be easy or that it would bring recognition. Most of the time the opposite happens. But the Lord wants to fill our hearts with the vision of heaven and with His joy and peace.
We have been called to this community by God for a reason. The reason may be different for each of us, but the one truth is that God needs each and every one of us to bring His message to others.
Let our prayer be, “Lord I want to follow You as your disciple and to love You wholeheartedly with all that I have. Fill my heart with faith, hope and love that I may always find peace and joy in Your presence. Amen!”