What's in it for Me?

At that time Peter began to tell Jesus, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you.’
Mk.10:28

The rich young man has just walked away despondent at not being able to meet Jesus' challenge to give his wealth away.  Impetuous Peter speaks what's on all the disciples'minds... what about us? We gave everything away to follow you. What do we get in return?

What's in it for me? A very human response when the demands being made are big. Being overtly Christian costs me. Not as much as some truly persecuted believers in other countries but still, there's a price to pay in our secular society. We are regarded as a lunatic fringe group at best, dangerous bigots at worst. 

Jesus gives an answer. Everything is in it for you Mike, especially where it counts in eternity. 

Saint Peter the asker of good questions, please pray for me.

 

The Gospel According to Mike

There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.
Jn.21:25

John puts down his pen after writing his account of the life and works of Jesus. Then he writes one last verse, a postscript, adding there is so much more to say but it would be impossible to record. 

Jesus is alive and still at work. His story continues to be told in the life of every believer, and continues to be told in my life. What will I write in the Gospel According to Mike today? 

Jesus, let me write about your love in my day today. 
Saint John the Apostle, please pray for me.

Speak Out

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me.
Jn.21:15

The resurrected Jesus appears to the apostles and converses with Peter. Peter's three-time affirmation of his love for Jesus helps him move on from his earlier three-time denial and pick up his mantle of leadership in the fledgling Church.

There's power in voicing a belief. Speaking out makes the belief take deeper roots. A tree with deeper roots withstands the storm and can protect others. Jesus knew Peter would soon need to do this for the persecuted Church he was called to lead. 

How deep are my roots of faith? Where can I speak out in order to deepen them? Anywhere and everywhere. Anytime and all the time.

Jesus, give me courage to speak out my belief in you.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Unity

Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one.
Jn.17:20,21

Jesus' final prayer is for those who "will believe". He is praying for me.

This makes my faith personal. My God is not a distant deity, he is a close friend. And he craves for me to be unified with fellow believers. This includes other denominations. 

There is a power in unity that is attractive. No one wants to join a group that squabbles. 

Lord, help me be an agent for unity today.

Saint Bede please pray for me.

In the world but not of it

I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one.
Jn.17:15

In Jesus' final prayer for his disciples in the upper room he calls on God the Father's protection for them. They are in a hostile world, under attack from the evil one.

This "in the world but not of the world" reality continues for all believers today, for me today. The antidote for this hostility is love and joy. I'm to work in the opposite spirit. That's how Jesus' command to go make disciples is acted out. It's the reason I'm not being removed, not just yet.

Jesus, you promised to be with me always. With your promise I step out into a hostile world to win it for you with love and joy.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Bother in Love

I tell you most solemnly, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.
Jn.16:20

Jesus prepares his disciples for the trauma of his forthcoming death. The Cross will not be the end of his story, nor their anguish the end of theirs. 

The world wanted Jesus removed and rejoiced when it thought that had happened. Nothing has changed. Christians are an anathema because we challenge, or at least we should be challenging, the world's view on life. What we do inside the walls of our churches doesn't bother the world. It's when we bust out into the streets that we become a bother. 

Lord, give me courage to be a thorn in the side, a bother to the world today and help me bother in love.
Saint Peter, please pray for me.

Joy

You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.
Jn.16:20

Jesus is giving a glimpse into end times. For a time, a short time, he will be physically absent from earth. But... he will return and our joy will return with him, never to depart. 

Jesus never promised the absence of pain, suffering and sorrow on earth. But he has promised he will return and sorrow will depart to be replaced with everlasting joy. Joy will have the final say and it's the final say that counts.

Thank you Jesus for your promise to return. This promise gives me joy today. 
Saint Paul, please pray for me.