Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 13 october 2024 Mass Reading Reflection for 13 october 2024
Gospel: Mark 10: 17-30
‘The young man went away sad.” Compare him with the boy who gave his last loaves to Jesus. That boy should be the happiest and proudest one that day when Jesus multiplied the five loaves for the five thousand (Jn 6:9). He gave up everything he had and was blessed to be by the side of Jesus for the rarest of the moments in human history.
The rule of the world is to amass as much as possible because you do not know how much you need tomorrow. With Jesus it is different; let them go because God your Father knows well what you need today and tomorrow. Only those who trust in God can give up like the child. Francis of Assisi let go of his paternal possessions because he knew his heavenly Father was immensely rich.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta let go of the safety and security of her convent trusting in God. The examples are numerous. Those who trusted let go and ended up serving more. This is the miracle Jesus continues doing to this day.
Peter boldly said: “We have given up everything and followed you.”
Jesus helped Peter complete listing what they had given up: houses, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and land. They left everything for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel. And Jesus promised they would be returned a hundred-fold in this world along with persecution.
The story of every Catholic priest, who left his home and everything with it, is a testimony of the promise fulfilled. Even when he lives and works on a different continent, speaking a new language, and working with people of different cultures and colors, he is at home. He finds more people who would hold him like their own son. He would find lots of them who would care for him as if he is their only brother. He would find hundreds of children who would trust and love him more like their parents.
It is a miracle unfolding in the lives of tens of thousands of priests every day. Not just in the lives of our priests, but also in the lives of the tens of thousands of consecrated nuns, and lay missionaries. It’s a miracle only God can do.
Jesus calls us today to let go of everything else so that we can hold on to Jesus. Let us recall the contrasting images, the young man who went away sad, and the boy who happily offered the last loaves of bread to Jesus.
Amen.
