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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Leaving and receiving
In the previous gospel passage, Jesus invited the young rich man to follow Him, but he left sad because his riches prevented him from doing so. Peter realised that he and the other disciples had left everything behind in order to follow the Master, and he wanted to know what their reward was. Jesus told him that by losing for the sake of the Kingdom of God, they were gaining new relationships and belonging to God’s family.
Sometimes, we pray fervently, asking God for something, even making some sacrifices, thinking that the more prayers and actions we do for Him, the more chances we will have to obtain what we are praying for. God is not a vending machine from which we insert a coin and get something in return. God is the fountain of love and goodness; we receive what He is when we go to Him. His goodness may not materialise in material riches. Instead, it comes in the form of inner peace and hope. What we receive from God makes us live a more fulfilling life than whatever we leave behind when we follow Him.
Reflective question:
Am I open to receiving God’s gifts?
Am I open to receiving God’s gifts?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
