“No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much...” — Mark 10:29-30

I came from a previous marriage that ended in annulment. Then I had another failed relationship.

Rezza, my officemate, witnessed my terrible heartbreak and recovery. We’d attend The Feast (the weekly gathering of the Light of Jesus Family) together. She also joined me in personal development seminars. Soon after, we became a couple.

But during one of our seminars, I received a message from God that brought me to my knees. He said, “Edwin is not for Rezza. Rezza is not for Edwin.” I couldn’t understand. How can this be? After going through two terrible heartbreaks, I denied the message I heard and pushed it away.

Fast forward to the 2016 Hillsong Conference. I struggled and sought direction. In prayer, the Lord spoke to me powerfully. He said, “Edwin, you are for Me. Rezza is for Me. Serve Me. Trust Me.” On my knees, I broke down in tears.

I thought Rezza was for me, but the truth is, Rezza is for the Lord. I thought I was for Rezza, but I am for the Lord. And, by God’s grace, we were brought to each other to journey together. Side by side, we would fulfill our fundamental purpose in life: to serve the Lord. God gave me a lifelong partner who serves Him as well. Edwin Soriano (edwin@winningcoaching.net)

Reflect: Be honest with yourself. Who are you putting first in your life?

Lord, You first. Amen.

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, pray for us.

1 Peter 1:10-16

10 Beloved: Concerning the salvation of your souls the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, 11 investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the Good News to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look. 13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, 16 for it is written, Be holy because I am holy. 

 

P S A L M 

Psalm 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

R: The Lord has made known his salvation.

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. (R) 2 The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. 3 He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. (R) All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. 4 Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. (R)

GOSPEL 

“The first will be last and the last will be first,” is one of the paradoxes that Jesus teaches us. It warns us that those who are held in esteem in the world may not be treated in the same way in the Kingdom of heaven. Let us pray for the grace to listen to the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides us. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

 

The rich man yesterday obviously wanted more. He had good intentions. A grade of A for effort. He did all that the commandments required. He did not skip a single one, and, for good measure, since he was young.

Peter and the rest of the disciples went one step beyond and farther than what the rich man was prepared to do. The passably good rich man, who even called the teacher “good,” did not take that crucial step that made Peter and the rest of the disciples a cut above him. Peter and company became disciples. The rich man, crestfallen, took a step backward, and “went away sad,” unwilling to be Jesus’ disciple.

Peter was both right and on point when he claimed, “Look, we have given up all and followed You!” He probably thought, “Can’t You give a little consideration? That man who flattered You and called You ‘good’ did not even want to do so much as we have done! I mean, let’s put everything in perspective. We are not exactly freeloaders here. We have invested a whole lot on You and Your dreams of a Kingdom!”

Peter, who was acting as spokesman for all the rest, was definitely right and on point. But he and the rest were missing the point. And what is the point?

Simply this. Discipleship is a two-way traffic. It has its rewards. But it has its costs. The hundredfold that the Lord spoke of was a double-edged sword — houses and siblings along with persecutions, and to top it all off, eternal life. Cheap grace and costly grace — they all come with the territory of being disciples. You can’t have it one way. You can’t have it your way. Discipleship is spelled thus. Go. Sell. Give. Come. Follow!

I am convicted by the Lord’s words. How many times have I complained to the Lord: “I have done everything. I have sacrificed so much. I spent all the years of my youth laboring for You and the Kingdom, and look at what they have done to me! Not only were they ungrateful. They even imputed bad will to everything I gave You!”

Did you say “everything?” Think about it. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

------- REFLECTION QUESTION ------

Have you at times acted like Peter in today’s Gospel — counting what you have done for the Lord and expecting a reward?

Purify my motives, Lord, in following and serving You. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________