Reflection for Tuesday, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
TODAY'S WORD
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
Sirach: 35:12-13 "Give to the Most High as He has given to you, and as generously as you can afford. For the Lord is the one who repays, and He will repay you sevenfold."
TODAY'S REFLECTION
The 1st reading says that for a virtuous person, generosity and sacrifice are what he offers to God.
He is also just in his relationships and cheerful in offering help to others.
If we truly want to be a virtuous person, we have to leave ourselves behind in order to have a right and just relationship with God and with others.
Saint Paul expresses the conviction when writing to the church in Corinth, ‘you will be enriched in every way for your great generosity’.
The question that Peter puts to Jesus in today’s gospel reading shows a certain amount of self-interest, ‘What about us?
We have left everything and followed you’.
Peter seems to want some reassurance that the sacrifices he has made to follow Jesus will be worth it.
It is a very understandable question. There is an honesty about it. We often find it easy to identify with Peter because of his honesty, his humanity.
In answering his question Jesus assures him that whatever he has given up to become a disciple is small compared to what he will receive.
He will be repaid a ‘hundred times over’. Jesus is reminding us all that if we are generous with him, his generosity towards us will far exceed our generosity towards him.
Following the Lord will often mean what the gospel reading calls ‘persecutions’, taking the more difficult path, the less travelled way.
However, in taking that path Jesus assures us that we will receive far more than we will give, both in this life and in the life to come.
Let's resolve to leave ourselves, and everything behind, knowing that God will be our reward. So that
we will have fruitful and meaningful relationships with others
GOD BLESS YOU 🙏
Good morning. Have a nice safe day