Today,
just like that landowner who went out early in the morning to hire
men to work in his vineyard, the Lord is seeking disciples, followers
and friends. His, is a universal call. A captivating offer, the Lord
entrust us with! On one condition, though. One condition that may
dishearten us: «For my sake and for the Gospel» you are
to leave «house, brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or
children, or lands» (cf. Mk 10:29).
But,
is there any compensation? Shall there be any reward? Shall we make
any gain out of it? Peter, in the name of the Apostles, reminds the
Master: «We have given up everything to follow you» (Mk
10:28), as if asking: what benefit shall we get?
The
Lord's promise is very generous: «but he will receive one
hundred times more now in this time (…) and in the age to come
eternal life» (Mk 10:30). He cannot be surpassed as far
as generosity. But He adds: «even in the midst of persecution».
Jesus is very realistic and He does not want to deceive anybody. To
be a disciple of his, if we are truly so, will bring us troubles and
problems. However, Jesus considers persecutions and troubles a
reward, for they help us to grow, if we accept and live through them
as an opportunity to gain in maturity and responsibility. Whatever
act of sacrifice makes us more like Jesus Christ who, by dying in the
Cross, saves us.
We
have always time to revise our life and get closer to Jesus Christ,
especially during the times of Advent and Lent. Through prayer and
the sacraments, these times and all times, we can find out whether we
are amongst the disciples He is seeking, and decide which our answer
must be to that call. Next to radical responses (such as those from
the Apostles) there are others. For many, “to leave house,
brothers or sisters, or father or mother…” will just
mean whatever unable us to live deeply in Jesus' close friendship
and, as a consequence, become his testimony before the world. And
this is urgent, don't you think so?
