Pope: those who follow Jesus and "leave everything", "will receive everything"

"Jesus gives all of himself, because the fullness, the fullness of God is fullness that is annihilated on the Cross." "This is the gift of God: annihilated fullness. And this is the style of the Christian: to seek fullness, to receive the annihilated fullness and follow that road. "

 

Vatican City (AsiaNews) -Choose God, not riches, follow him in the certainty that those who leave everything, will receive everything, said Pope Francis today at Mass this morning in Santa Marta, commenting on today's Gospel (Mark 10.28 to 31) in which Jesus speaks of the "response" that those who decide to follow him receive.

In these days before Lent, noted Francis, the Church "makes us think about the relationship between God and riches", highlighted in the encounter between the "rich young man who wanted to follow the Lord, but in the end was so rich that he chose riches. " The comment of Jesus, the Pope observed, frightens the disciples: "How difficult is it that a rich man enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. "

Today, the Pope observed, Mark's Gospel shows us Peter after asking the Lord what will become of those who have left everything. It almost seems that "Peter passed the bill to the Lord". "He did not know what to say: 'Yes, he is gone, but what about us?'. The response of Jesus is clear: 'I tell you, there is no one who has left everything who will not receive everything'. 'Behold, we have left everything'. 'You will receive everything', with the overflowing measure with which God gives his gifts. 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.' Everything. The Lord cannot give less than everything. When he gives something he gives himself, that is all of himself."

However,  added the Pope, "there is a word" in this passage 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." This, he said, is to "enter" into a "different way of thinking, another way of acting. Jesus gives all of himself, because the fullness, the fullness of God is fullness that is annihilated on the Cross. " "This is the gift of God: annihilated fullness. And this is the style of the Christian: to seek fullness, to receive the annihilated fullness and follow that path. It is not easy, this is not easy. And what is the sign, what is the sign that I go on in this giving everything and receiving everything? We heard in the First Reading: With each contribution show a cheerful countenance, and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means '. A cheerful countenance, joyful, happy eyes ... The sign that we go on this path of everything and nothing, the annihilated fullness, is joy. "

The rich young man, however, "his face fell and he went away sorrowful". "He was not able to receive, to welcome this annihilated fullness: Saints, Peter himself, overcame it. And in the midst of trials, difficulties had a cheerful countenance, a pleased and joyful heart. " This "is the sign." As the Chilean saint Alberto Hurtado showed. "He always worked, difficulty after difficulty, trouble behind ... He worked for the poor ... It really was a man who worked his way up in that country ... The charity to help the poor ... But he was persecuted, so much suffering. But when he was right there, annihilated on the Cross, the phrase was: Contento, Señor, Contento, 'Happy, Lord, happy'. That he may teach us to go down this path, give us the grace to go on this path that is hard, of everything and nothing, of the annihilated fullness of Jesus Christ and to always say, especially in difficulties:' Content, Lord, content ' " .

• Vatican Pope Francis wealth Hurtado charity