"Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.
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."
Mk 10:21b, 29-30
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.
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."
Mk 10:21b, 29-30
Reflection:
The Marcan confession asserts the theological teachings that wealth can be an obstacle to discipleship. It's not that material possessions are intrinsically evil. It's not an issue whether we have a nice car, a lovely home or all the riches in the world. The question is whether those things have us. Deep down, we know that the things of this world will not satisfy us. The recent taste of Nature, the typhoon 'Ondoy' and 'Pepeng' that slammed on-ground Philippines, specifically at the Metropolitan Manila, is just one of the many living evident that worldly things is not enough to save us. As they say, "walang pinipili ang tadhana: mahirap man o mayaman." We all are, whatever our state in life, are candidates to persecutions; discipleship necessarily involves persecution and suffering and only then reliance on Jesus can bring us to salvation.
As we begin to understand Jesus more and more, wordly things shift into their rightful place. It's not that we have to reject all of our possessions; it's that it should not consume us. It is therefore a serious challenge for us Christians today. The world cannot accept truths and oftentimes find it difficult to enter another world for at present time, it provides food, fun and pleasant company, while the other world [kingdom of God] is so intangible. Maybe it is time that we start asking ourselves, what we are so afraid of losing. Why, despite all the accomplishments we have, we still feel so empty, so incomplete? Let us then find the courage to detach ourselves from everything. From family, from fame and know the rewards of discipleship will surpass any sacrifices and in Jesus, will all happiness be found.
Note: Excerpts from WAU, From Spring to Life - Gospel Reflection. Photo: Google
The Marcan confession asserts the theological teachings that wealth can be an obstacle to discipleship. It's not that material possessions are intrinsically evil. It's not an issue whether we have a nice car, a lovely home or all the riches in the world. The question is whether those things have us. Deep down, we know that the things of this world will not satisfy us. The recent taste of Nature, the typhoon 'Ondoy' and 'Pepeng' that slammed on-ground Philippines, specifically at the Metropolitan Manila, is just one of the many living evident that worldly things is not enough to save us. As they say, "walang pinipili ang tadhana: mahirap man o mayaman." We all are, whatever our state in life, are candidates to persecutions; discipleship necessarily involves persecution and suffering and only then reliance on Jesus can bring us to salvation.
As we begin to understand Jesus more and more, wordly things shift into their rightful place. It's not that we have to reject all of our possessions; it's that it should not consume us. It is therefore a serious challenge for us Christians today. The world cannot accept truths and oftentimes find it difficult to enter another world for at present time, it provides food, fun and pleasant company, while the other world [kingdom of God] is so intangible. Maybe it is time that we start asking ourselves, what we are so afraid of losing. Why, despite all the accomplishments we have, we still feel so empty, so incomplete? Let us then find the courage to detach ourselves from everything. From family, from fame and know the rewards of discipleship will surpass any sacrifices and in Jesus, will all happiness be found.
Note: Excerpts from WAU, From Spring to Life - Gospel Reflection. Photo: Google
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