Everybody likes a good deal, right? We always like to think that when we're buying or investing, we're going to come out the better for it. And when you think about it like that, more is definitely better! If you could make 20% or 40% on an investment, which would you choose? Would you invest in something if you knew you could make a hundred times on that investment?
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."
Think about that for a moment. You're going to get a 100 X return on your investment. The trick is to get money and wealth and material possessions out of your mind. Investing in eternity has nothing to do with that stuff. It's all about blessings and graces. Oh, and eternal life. That's the best deal you're ever going to make.
Father, we want to invest in eternity. Help us to give up everything, that we may inherit a hundred times more. Amen.
This gospel reading relates to the discussion about the Irish vote to legalize abortion. The only way this will change anywhere is to change the culture of death to a culture of life. A return to modesty in dress, sex within marriage, politeness and restraint. I see very involved, very Christian families doing this, one family at a time, but we need to start changing society long before abortion is an issue. Only then will we see a drop in abortions and possibly the 100 fold blessings of no babies aborted.