Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 5, 2019
Peter began to say to Jesus,
‘We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus said, “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:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
Peter is puzzled by Jesus’ call to the rich young man to give up his wealth. The young man left discouraged because he had amassed a large amount of money over the years. Peter, too, seems to feel downtrodden, because he had given up so much to follow Jesus.
Jesus is asking for our devotion, sacrifice, for the giving of self for “the sake of the Gospel.” This means different things to different people. In my life, I have wanted to serve God in a variety of ways. Teaching Sunday School classes, sharing my testimony and life-changing story of salvation with women’s groups, and serving food to the homeless through our local shelter are ways that I have found great joy through service. Whether our sacrifices are large or small, Jesus is asking his followers to do something to glorify God. Each of us discovers our own way of glorifying God when we listen to that still, small voice in our hearts.
Our love and sacrifice will never compare to the gift of salvation Jesus did for us, truly a payment of “one hundred-fold.” But Jesus knows our hearts, and he will be pleased with any genuine acts of sacrifice and service done in his name. For me, daily sacrifice means loving, encouraging, and caring for the ones I love.
Sometimes sacrifice hurts, and sometimes it is so effortless that it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice at all. Jesus promises, no matter how sacrifice feels, he will accept any offering we make on his behalf. If Jesus was standing in front of you and posed the very same challenge he posed to Peter and the rich young man what would your answer be?
Prayer
Lord, like your first disciples, we wish to abandon all to follow you. Yet we have learned that we still have it within ourselves to hold back. We wish to be whole-hearted, yet we are hesitant. May the promise of your love and friendship continue to draw us along the paths of discipleship in this world to our eternal home in the world to come. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Adrian was a Christian missionary who was martyred in 309 in Caesarea, in modern Israel, with a traveling companion named Eubulus.
The two were traveling to Caesarea to visit the Christian community there. The area was part of the Roman empire, which was persecuting Christians. When they reached the city gates, they were asked about the purpose of their travel. They frankly acknowledged that they had come to assist the Christian community in the city. They were immediately arrested, and the local governor had them scourged and thrown to the lions.
The relics of St. Adrian rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Adrian, you left your home to support persecuted Christians, and were martyred for your faith—pray for us!