1st Week after Holy Cross

FRIDAY
Revelation 2:12-17
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write this: ” ‘The one with the sharp two-edged sword says this: “I know that you live where Satan’s throne is, and yet you hold fast to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among you, where Satan lives. Yet I have a few things against you. You have some people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites: to eat food sacrificed to idols and to play the harlot. Likewise, you also have some people who hold to the teaching of (the) Nicolaitans. Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.” ‘”Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.”‘

Mark 10:28-31
Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” 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. But many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first.”

Is Jesus lying? Surely, some Christian has given up house or land for the faith and not recieved 100 houses in return in this life. Jesus is not referring to heaven in this passage. Jesus is saying that in addition to heaven, eternal joy in God’s love, we will also recieve 100 fold in this life. Jesus is promising us the best investment returns most of us will ever see. What is meant? First, Jesus is giving us the Church, a community of love and mutual self-giving. To leave the world for the Church often means being rejected by family, but one enters a new family. I have not two sisters, but 1 billion siblings and family members and every Church has become my home, and my home has become the home to all. Second, in recieving grace and mercy we recieve more than the world can give, made manifest through the fruits of the Spirit.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O Good Master and Ruler of all,
your kindness is felt even by evil doers.
Grant that we may always respond to your goodness and
accomplish deeds of justice.
On the Day of the great manifestation of your justice
may we not be cursed,
rather, let your grace surround and protect us.
Glory be to you forever.
Amen.