Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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."

We must be willing to give up everything to do God’s Will. If we aren’t, we will be like the man who has kept the commandments, but cannot let go of his worldly possessions and follow Christ. We might not realize it, but every day we are given the same choice: follow God or follow the world like the man in today’s gospel. We might be good and follow all the commandments, but our attachments to this world keep us from following the Golden rules—to love God and our neighbors with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. However, sacrificing our attachments to this world also opens us up to the gifts and graces that come from leading the Christ-like life. Jesus promises us that whatever we sacrifice now will be repaid a hundred times more. Of course, there will be persecutions along the way, but eternal life in the age to come will be well worth the sufferings we are being asked to undertake.

Are we willing to sacrifice our worldly possessions or are we possessed by them? If we are having trouble letting go and letting God, then how can we cultivate a spirit of detachment? Are we willing to suffer in order to imitate Christ and attain eternal life?

O Lord, we are willing to give everything up for you and the sake of your gospels.

Amen.