Finally! Our 4 postulants from Myanmar are with us. Welcome!
Fraternity
“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.”(Mk 10:29,30)
Indeed, I do not know of anyone who can believe the issue about the recompense. All who have left everything for the sake of the gospel, can attest that they have received a hundred times over.
Perhaps the curious peculiarity of Mark’s gospel is, not only the detailed mention of houses, brother, sisters, etc, but the interesting addition of persecutions.
The kingdom of God is not something that brings more advantages if it is pursued. We do not pursue the kingdom of God so that we can have a hundredfold reward of earthly securities. If we did that, the kingdom of God would be a means to an end: A trade of momentary insecurity for the guarantee of a hundredfold recompense. Persecutions come with the package.
We do not weigh the advantages with the disadvantages of leaving everything for the kingdom of God. The kingdom is in itself the recompense. The hundredfold is a foretaste of the future reward and the persecutions the toll of the world.
After all, the world is not yet ready to receive the message of the Gospel. The world resists the gospel, and its preachers receive that opposition completing the sufferings of Christ (Paul)–not because those sufferings lack in any thing, but because the world is lacking in readiness. Suffering comes in the package.
May 27, 2008 at 10:11 am
Persecutions come with the (hundredfold) package.
Wow! I’ve read this passage many times and never noticed the word “persecutions” in the list of rewards. Thanks for highlighting this.
May 27, 2008 at 5:06 pm
The clause “with persecutions” is like a fine print, amidst a very consoling, encouraging, inviting statement. Uh-oh… did you say “with persecutions”? Always read the fine print. Terms and conditions apply.
May 29, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Hahahha. Actually when I think when Jesus said “houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands”, He meant like, everyone becomes your brother or sister ya, you can reach a lot more people, travel further… ????? Not literal right…??? this is a metaphorical God. Very annoying. Also very interesting. No? Always speaking in parables. Can be more straightforward, please?? Lol