Homily: Eighth Tuesday of Ordinary Time
Eighth Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Mark 10:28-31) “Can I Give and Not Count the Cost?”
Peter complains to Jesus that he has given up everything to follow Jesus. Peter did leave a lot behind to walk with Jesus and be instructed by him. We know that he had a family he left behind. He also had a profitable fishing business that others had to run. Jesus assures him that he will receive much more than he has ever sacrificed.
I had a priest friend who tried to do a lot of favors for people, but he did not want to be thanked or acknowledged. He felt like at the end of his life he would be acknowledged, and that was enough for him. He had every confidence that God was observing everything.
There are not many people around like this. I know that I get upset at times when others are thanked after working on a project and I know that I have done a lot more than them. When I am thanked, I feel gratified. I am not alone in that feeling.
I have met a lot of good people in my life who have done great things in the parishes I have worked in, and they often say they want to remain anonymous, or they do not want thanks. Sometimes I do not listen, and I single them out for thanks. I notice at those times how much the acknowledgement means.
We need to be reminded of two things that can help us as we try to be unselfish followers of Jesus. One thing is that when we make sacrifices there are probably a lot of people watching what we do. They appreciate us even if they do not say so. The other thing we need to remember is that Our Lord sees everything that we do and one day when we meet him face to face, he will be most grateful, and we will reap rich rewards.
Reflection Questions:
- Am I thanked enough for the charity I do? Am I ever resentful when others are acknowledged, and I am not?
- Did Jesus ever say we would be thanked in this world? What did he tell us?
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Dear Parishioners,
Today is my birthday and it will be a day of reflection for me. It is hard to believe that there is much more of life behind me than in front of me. Who is that old man who looks at me in the mirror every morning?
The Gospel seems very apropos today. My anniversary of ordination is the 29th of this month. Thirty-eight years ago, Bishop O’Rourke laid his hands on my head to ordain me. I have often said the toughest part of the ceremony was when I placed my hands in the Bishop’s and promised obedience. I thought I knew him fairly well but did not know the bishops that would come after. The future was hidden from my eyes.
We are all in the same boat when we make vows. The person we marry will change over time. We might not recognize them after a while. But we promise to love them for better or for worse. If we keep the vows we made, then there is a sense that it will impact our lives and those around us for the better. At times we fail, but we believe the Lord is rich in mercy.
That is the hope that we live with.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark