Homily for Tuesday
Week 8 of Ordinary Time
March 1, 2022
Mark 10: 28-31
Christian Brothers, St.
Joseph Residence, New Rochelle
“We have given up
everything and followed you” (Mark 10: 28).
Peter contrasts himself and his comrades—once again, he’s speaking for the whole apostolic college—with the rich young man who’s just turned away from Jesus (10:17-27), which was yesterday’s gospel reading.
Maybe Peter’s looking
for a pat on the back. Maybe, like James
and John, who more self-centeredly later in this same chapter (10:35-41) will
seek prominent places in Jesus’ kingdom, he’s asking on behalf of all of them
what advantage they’ll have for following Jesus—which to this point has
certainly not been obvious in their nomadic existence. Maybe he’s thinking, like Putin’s cronies and
the pals of tyrants everywhere that they’ll eventually come into wealth and
comfort.
To some extent, yes,
they will, but not in the way the world reckons wealth. Jesus lists some wonderful advantages—which
we in religious life have experienced.
Countless brothers, numerous houses, children galore, even generous
mothers and sisters who look after us in various ways. But Jesus adds something neither Peter nor we
expect or want: “with persecutions”
(10:30).
Pope Francis has pointed out that persecutions have accompanied the followers of Jesus from the beginning. He says, “That’s the Christian’s reward and that’s the way for anyone who wants to follow Jesus, because it’s the way he went himself: he was persecuted.”[1] The Holy Father goes so far as to call persecution one of the Beatitudes. He notes the countless martyrs of the 20th century, adding, “I tell you that today there are more martyrs than in the Church’s early days.”[2] He notes how believers are persecuted in places for owning a Bible or wearing a cross. Many have to practice their faith in secret. Many go to prison or re-education camps. Many are killed. If the Russians conquer Ukraine, we’re pretty sure that Catholics of both Latin and Eastern rites will face persecution; probably also those of the Orthodox Ukrainian Patriarchate, no friends of Putin’s Orthodox servants in Moscow.
We support our brothers and sisters by following their stories and praying for them, that the hope of eternal life which Jesus also promises (10:30) will sustain them; and by ourselves living as faithful disciples, by really giving up everything (10:28)—all our selfishness—to follow Jesus.
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