Matthew 19:27-29 NRSVue
27Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28Jesus 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. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
This was the invitation which Benedict followed. He was named the patron of
Europe because the peaceful order of his monasteries helped to reshape this
continent from the chaos of the dark ages, and create oases of tranquillity
in which civilisation could be reborn.
Reflection
For Benedict, monastic life was an opportunity to have leisure for God,
/vacare Deo/. Lord, may I find some leisure for you in my life. Let /Sacred
Space/ be my monastery.
Reflection
'What's in it for me?' The question seems reasonable but the measure is often
in the shorter term. Jesus takes a longer view, calling us to trust in him
for life, not just for a foreseeable future.
Reflection
Jesus points to ‘the renewal of all things’, calling us always to think
of where life is. I allow myself to hope for renewal and to trust that every
good thing that seems now incomplete, fragile or failing is alive to God.
Reflection
This promise has had profound effects on the world’s history, in the
hundreds of thousands of good people who for Jesus’ sake have left
everything they held precious, in order to give themselves to serving others.
Today we honour Benedict, who guided a vast community of such people, and
through his monasteries saved the civilisation and culture of Europe, of
which he is the patron.