First reading 1 Peter 1:10-16
Put your trust in the grace that is coming to you
It was this salvation that the prophets were looking and searching so hard for; their prophecies were about the grace which was to come to you. The Spirit of Christ which was in them foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would come after them, and they tried to find out at what time and in what circumstances all this was to be expected. It was revealed to them that the news they brought of all the things which have now been announced to you, by those who preached to you the Good News through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, was for you and not for themselves. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
Free your minds, then, of encumbrances; control them, and put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Do not behave in the way that you liked to before you learnt the truth; make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.
Responsorial Psalm 97(98):1-4
The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
Gospel Mark 10:28-31
Whoever has left everything for the sake of the gospel will be repaid
At that time Peter began to tell Jesus, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.
‘Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
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To lose in order to gain
Today’s Gospel passage invites us to understand the difficult path we must take in following Jesus. Peter, speaking for the other disciples, asks what they will get for leaving everything behind to follow Him. Jesus does not promise Peter worldly comfort, glory, or power. Instead, He tells him that anyone who sacrifices their homes, family, and possessions for the sake of the Gospel will receive a hundredfold in this life, along with persecution and loss, and will enjoy eternal life in the world to come.
Today, Jesus does not hide the challenges we may face in following Him. Yet, He assures us that we will also experience a wealth of friendship with brothers and sisters in faith, the invaluable treasures of faith and trust when our earthly securities fade away, and the clarity that comes from living a life filled with purpose and meaning, beyond mere comfort. Let us ask Jesus for the courage to let go of our clinging to status, possessions, or approval so that we can truly follow Him faithfully to the end.
Reflective question:
What would it look like for me to give up one comfort or attachment today to follow Jesus more freely?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
