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Theo Tigno•
8/19/2003 9:36 am
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Tueday, August 19th 2003 |
Matthew 19: 23-30
Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." Then Peter said to him in reply, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for the gas crisis in Phoenix.
Don't you love how Jesus always puts things into perspective.
Between yesterday's and today's readings we see two human reactions to the God's calling: walk away or find out what's in it for us. Both reactions lack one thing: Knowing that God loves you.
The first question is asked by the disciples: Who can get into heaven? The answer is simple, profound and applies to so much more than "who can get into heaven." The answer points to the greatness of God and the greatness of God's mercy. The answer liberates our limited ways of thinking so that we can surrender our feeble ways in order to be free to accept God's will for us. In Jesus' simple answer to the disciples to "Who can get into heaven," we are reminded to fear not because "for God all things are possible."
The second question is asked by St. Peter asking a St. Peter question: What's in it for us? The question doubts God's love for each of us where we should know that God does indeed love us and will take care of us. Jesus, as usual, puts things into perspective. The true gifts we have been given is not the gifts itself. Rather, the true gift is the ability to give up the gifts for the sake of following God will. The true gift is not in receiving, but rather in giving. The true gift is not in being loved but in loving. In perspective, the True Gift, Jesus Christ Himself, is the gift we give up everything else for because He is the One and Only Gift. Take care and God Bless.
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