May 26, 2015
(St. Philip Neri, Priest)
The apostles were beginning to feel a little under-appreciated for all they had given up for the Lord. Jesus said, “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: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.” Mk 10:28-31
Today’s Scriptures talk about oblations. An oblation is our offering to God. It may be an act of good will, a prayer, the fruit of our labor (money and time), or even our fasting to become a more disciplined person. These oblations do not always result in immediate gratification, however. Actually we shouldn’t be looking for any gratification from the giving of a gift anyway. But again it’s that old ‘human nature,’ “What’s in it for me?”!
Jesus responds to Peter’s gripe with a fact. We will receive our due reward, with patient endurance. It may occur within our worldly lifetime, but it will definitely occur in our eternal lifetime with God. Of course the classic example is the story of Job. Job endured the ultimate in loss: of family, possessions and even his own health. But patient endurance and trust in God eventually led to exactly the reward Jesus described today.
We just may have to endure a little suffering,
but with Patience, Silence and Trust,
we know that God is true to His Word.
And there is our HOPE!
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