February 28, 2017Tuesday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Sir. 25:1-12
Gospel: Mk 10:28-31
Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “We have given up everything to follow you.” Jesus answered, “Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward. I say to you: even in the midst of persecution he will receive a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and lands in the present time and in the world to come eternal life…”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Today’s Gospel is sequel to yesterday’s story of the rich young man who failed the ultimate test of detachment. When he went away sad he showed how attached he was to the things of this world. The issue then was not about actual divestment but about the attitude of detachment.
The case of the rich young man shocked the disciples. “Then who can be saved?” they asked.
Nonetheless they were quick to claim compliance. After all they left their boats and their families to follow Jesus. We are not comfortable with their claim. While the young man was truly well heeled, they only had tattered nets and old fishing boats to abandon. This notwithstanding Jesus minced no words in assuring them the reward.
Jesus said: “Truly, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands for my sake and for the Gospel, who will not receive his reward…” What a lavish promise in exchange for the little that the disciples had given up. Too bad for the young man he made the knee-jerk reaction of turning away. In effect he waived any reward God had in store for him, even the reward that was already his on account of his perfect compliance of the commandments. Surely God was willing to meet him halfway.
It is so inspiring to know that God values human generosity. Because God is love, any little act of love a human being exercises will trigger resonance in Him, making reciprocity a matter of course. When God reciprocates, he does so “in good measure, pressed down and flowing over” (Luke 6:38). So let’s be generous to the Lord. It doesn’t take much to love him, and he is not difficult to love.
Generosity to the Lord demands total surrender especially in moments of vulnerability. It is when we are vulnerable that God finds it tempting to intervene because vulnerability, just like terrestrial space that abhors a vacuum, necessarily sucks in God’s grace. Will you take the challenge, or like the young man you will also go away sad? – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr. DM.
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