Tarsish Marak csc –
Readings: Ezek 28:1-10; Mt 19:23-30
The gospel passage speaks of two things, first, to enter the kingdom of God, and second, the consequences of following the lord.
Jesus says it will be very hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Entering the kingdom of God requires sacrifices.
When Peter asks the Lord, what the follower will gain Jesus assures ‘a hundred times more as well as eternal life.’ For God, everything is possible if only we obey and obey the commandments of God. Jesus simply does not promise to give a hundredfold of blessings and eternal life. We are called to detach from worldly pleasures, money, power, and positions. We are called to follow the Lord radically.
When he speaks of the rich man, he reminds us to inculcate the virtues of love, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and so on. Giving up something for following the Lord is a daily choice. When we follow the Lord wholeheartedly, we are given hundredfold of blessings and we experience a new life in him.