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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.
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“Master, we have given up everything and followed you.”
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On the surface, Peter’s right.
Unlike the rich young man, who walks away from Jesus “sad, for he had many possessions,” Peter and the others have left their boats, their homes, even their families, in order to follow Jesus.
That’s a huge sacrifice.
But the Christian journey – yours and mine – comes at more than just a physical cost; we must also part with things that we carry in our hearts.
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For example, Peter and the others are still carrying their pride.
Just a few verses prior, Jesus catches them arguing over who is the greatest. At this point, they’re still interested in titles and seats of honor, not in suffering or persecution.
Although they’ve left everything behind physically, the disciples are still works in progress, spiritually.
They are learning, as we all must, that discipleship is total commitment of mind, body, heart, and soul.
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Who or what have I parted with in order to follow the Lord?
Like Peter, are there parts of myself that I’m still carrying, which I need to leave behind, especially in terms of sins, habits, pride, fear, the desire for control, or ego?
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As we journey along the path of surrender, may Peter’s words one day become ours in the fullest sense:
“Master, we have given up everything and followed you.”
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Image credits: (1) Christ’s Charge to Peter, Raphael (2) Pexels (3) Open Music Archive, University of Salford Art Collection