We have given up everything and followed you.

Gospel of the Day (Matthew 19:23-30)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."

Then Peter said to him in reply, "We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

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Reflections:

"We have given up everything and followed you."

You have heard, my brethren, that Peter and Andrew abandoned their nets to follow the Redeemer at the first sound of his voice (Mt 4,20)... Perhaps someone will say to himself under his breath: «What have those two fisherman abandoned to answer the Lord's call? They had practically nothing.» But in this matter we should think of their disposition of heart rather than their fortune. The person who has not kept hold of anything for himself has left a good deal; the person who has forsaken everything has left a good deal, even if it is but small. As for ourselves, we passionately hold on to what we possess, and what we don't have, we pursue with all our desire. Indeed, Peter and Andrew left a great deal since both forsook even the desire to possess. They forsook a great deal because, in giving up their goods, they also gave up their covetousness. In following the Lord they gave up everything they might have desired if they had not followed him.

Source: Daily Gospel