***
Gospel: Mark 10:28-31
Peter began to say to Jesus,
‘We have given up everything and followed you.”
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.
But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Did you ever hear the story of the two monks?
***
One was an elderly man revered for his wisdom. The other was just a novice, having joined the monastery only a few months ago.
One day the older monk asked the novice to accompany him into town as he needed several items from the marketplace.
Returning home, they encountered a young woman struggling to cross a river, so they went over to help her.
Later that night back at the monastery, the older monk overheard the novice speaking to others about how rude that lady had been.
“All we did for her,” he said, “and she didn’t even say thank you!”
Pulling the novice aside, the elderly monk admonished him. “I left her at the river. It seems you’re still carrying her in your heart.”
***
In the Gospel, Peter tells Jesus that he’s left everything to follow him. On the surface, Peter’s right: he’s left his home, his family, and the life he once lived.
But like that angry young monk, Peter is carrying something extra in his heart… pride.
Just a few verses earlier, Jesus catches Peter arguing with the others about who is the greatest, a sign they still have much to learn.
A true disciple leaves his pride at the river.
***
I’m sure we’ve all left something at the river in order to follow Jesus – our family, our career plans, a relationship, a sinful habit, or perhaps our pride.
Is there anything else the Lord is inviting us to let go of?
***
“No one has given up anything for my sake,” the Lord, says, “who will not receive a hundred times more now and eternal life in the age to come.”
***
***
Image credits: (1) The Empty Boat, Om Swami (2) FrBonniesReflections (3) Living Rivers Foundation