Mark 10:28-31 Giving Everything and Nothing

Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

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Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.”

This is what I love about the Scriptures:  they are fully human and divine.  Do you sense a little bit of frustration in Peter’s comment?  I think so.  And I think it is perfectly legitimate.  After all, it is never easy to be an Apostle of the Lord.  There are so many “rules of engagement.”  Take it from me, sometimes “fighting” for the Lord can feel like you’re fighting in the style of a Vietnam War: with one hand tied behind your back!  I’m certain in the back of Peter’s mind he must have been asking himself things like: “Why aren’t we blasting our way out of this and using the full force of God?  Why do we have to be the ones who sacrifice so much while others don’t?  Why do we have to be so patient with sinners and so loving to our enemies?  That’s not going to stop them!  They take us for being fools!”     

Why do we fight like this?  Because unlike our enemies, we take prisoners, for we were once prisoners ourselves!

“To keep the law is a great oblation” (Sir 35:1).  The Commandments to love God above all things, to love one another “as I have loved you” and to love one’s enemies are excellent “burnt” offerings to God.  They are a wonder drug to all personal ambitions, the perfect anti-rejection meds to God’s heart and mind, and a marvelous antidote to the poison of selfishness.    

Peter’s harsh reaction to the Lord are not side effects associated with too much God but more like withdrawal “pains” associated with withdrawal to this world; from his very own life – his goals, his plans and his ideas; and from his sinfulness.   

But hadn’t he given everything away to follow the Lord?  No, at least not the most important things.  I found this out while in the seminary.  I thought I too had given up everything to follow Christ.  I thought giving up career, girlfriend, money, and family was “everything”.  But soon enough I realized that I was holding on to so many invisible things; more important things, such as my will. 

We have given up everything!  It’s one thing to give to the Lord physical things like your bed, your car and your money.  It’s another thing to give up spiritual things such as your heart, your mind and your innermost being. 

Peter wasn’t struggling so much with giving up his house, brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for Christ’s sake.  He was struggling with giving up his life to the Lord.  And our will constitutes a big part of our life!

“Give to the Most High as He has given to you” (Sir 35:10).  The Lord isn’t asking Peter to give up anymore than what He has given to them.  What He is asking is that they love as He has loved them. 

We believe in a God that gave Himself (His all) to His Father and to all His creation.  Wow!  What a difference!  

This “all” constitutes far more than just Christ’s spiritual home (heaven), His spiritual “family” and His spiritual possessions (his title and authority).  It includes, above all things, His heart, mind and innermost being.  “As the Father has sent me, I send you.” 

The Father sent His Son in His entirety.  And His entirety is His Love. 

Though His hands were restrained, His love could not be retrained.  Though His body was crushed, His love could not be crushed.  Though His life was extinguished, His love became distinguished.  Yes!  In the way that Christ loved, the Lord rose high above all other gods and made a name for himself; a name that sits high above all other God’s and names:  the name of Jesus: “God saves” with His Love.      

It’s time to give Him our all.

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