Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’ Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Jesus calls us to leave everything behind to follow him. Peter finds this radical proposal challenging.

It brings to mind Australian poet Les Murray. Murray’s biography is never far from my desk. I turn to his musings on vocation often and quote it when speaking on the subject. I find it compelling and he refers specifically to this scripture. (Matthew 19:29)

Les writes: “I really think I am in one of the darker sayings of Jesus, the sort that make me ultimately cleave to him above any other contender: I am the one that promises a person damnation if they put wife or child or mother before Christ.”

Les gave up his job and a regular income to write poetry which he believed was his calling.

“This quasi-priestly work of poetry is Christ, for me; it’s His life as I can live it by my efforts – or to put it another way, it is my Christ-nature made real and effective in the world. If I go back to … keeping my family, I will be lost. Difficult religion this one.”

Difficult indeed. God asks everything of us. But he offers eternal life.

Les Murray testifies to the truth of God’s promise. “I really have to go on finding grace enough to trust in Divine Providence … While ever I go on doing this work we will be provided for, barely but sufficiently.”

Last post I reflected on “Give us this day our daily bread.” Same theme. A call to radical trust in God’s provision.

Can we also trust in God’s providence if we choose Him above all else?