We Have Given Up Everything!

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Sir 35:1-12; Mk 10: 28-31

Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus’ promise of reward for discipleship. 

This passage follows the one on the rich young man who was unwilling to sell his possessions and give to the poor in order to be a disciple of Jesus. 

Peter represents the apostles and questions Jesus regarding their reward for following him. If we may rephrase the question, Peter is saying, ‘See, the rich young man could not give up everything to follow you. But we did. Now tell us, ‘What is our reward for following you?’

Jesus’ response is the promise of reward both in this life and the next, with persecutions. 

Writing on this passage, St. Augustine said, ‘St. Peter not only forsook what he had, but also what he desired to have. But who does not desire daily to increase what he has? That desire is cut off. Peter forsook the whole world, and he received in return the whole world. They were as those who had nothing, and yet were possessing all things.’

Now how to understand Jesus’ promise of reward that comes with afflictions?

I think we can look at it in two ways. 

1.If we forsake the earthly things for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, we gain Christ himself as our reward. When we forsake all for him, he becomes our father, brother, sister, and all other things. Thus, when God is on our side, our possessions become far richer than what material wealth can offer. This has been the experience of many saints. 

2. The person who forsakes everything for Christ and his Gospel cannot and does not understand reward in the sense of material possessions only. Rather, that reward is felt in the enlarged family of God’s people with whom we share our faith and existence. The internal bliss, spiritual joy, and everlasting peace are what we hope to receive as our reward for discipleship. The numerous lives of saints offer testimony to this spiritual truth. 

Let us pray that we may follow Jesus, motivated by the genuine rewards of discipleship. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar