A Hundred Fold
Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 19:23-30 - 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 men 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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or lands for the sake of my name will received a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Once again Jesus is talking about the dangers of being rich and wealthy. We have to be very serious about these dangers. The more we have, the more we rely on our possessions and the more we get used to having. The more we get used to having, the more we see our possessions as ours, instead of as God’s, or the Church’s, or the poor’s. When we view something as ours, we are not willing to give it up. In the Gospel today, Jesus is talking about giving up our possessions.
Priests and religious give up the things mentioned by Christ in the Gospel. They give up houses, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children, lands…everything for Christ, because He’s infinitely more valuable. We should foster and encourage openness to these types of vocations among our children and siblings. But lay members of the Church can and should have a similar attitude toward possessions in their own walks of life. Families should live more simply so they can be more generous to the poor. In prayer, consider what unnecessary, even dangerous, extras we have that could be given to the poor in their need.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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