A hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life

11 JULY (Mt 19,27-29)

Every man thinks according to the measure of holiness which is in his heart. The still “animal” or “natural” man thinks according to the flesh, while the “spiritual” man or the one governed by the Spirit of the Lord thinks according to the fullness of the evangelical truth. This distinction of thought, evaluation, discernment is thus revealed by St. Paul.

When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive (words of) wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Yet we do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among human beings, who knows what pertains to a person except the spirit of the person that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms. Now the natural person does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it, because it is judged spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can judge everything but is not subject to judgment by anyone. For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1Cor 2,1-16).

Peter follows Jesus, walks behind him; however, he is still a completely “natural”, and “animal” man. He is still not full of Holy Spirit, he has not been transformed into a completely spiritual person, that is, governed by the thought of Jesus Christ. His request pours from a heart that still thinks in terms of immediate, and material interest. However, Jesus does not disdain the heart of Peter and responds according to the measure of his faith and his state of elevation or current growth. Currently he is a child in his faith and Jesus reassures him in his smallness. This is precisely the wisdom of Jesus

Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.

Every day we, too, are faced with people who are highly spiritual, people who have passed the first and second degree of the ascetic path and live almost to the summit of their uniting perfection with God. The man who is before us is often a “natural”, and “animal” man that understand nothing about God’s heart. We are also asked to robe ourselves with the same knowledge of Jesus and in the Holy Spirit to find the right answer that allows a greater and greater progress in the sequel of Jesus. Now Peter knows that he has not lost anything. He knows he will have one hundred times as much in time and eternity. He knows that with Jesus the gain is always high, very high. He can follow him with peace in his heart. Then, tomorrow he we will grow and realize his past infant thinking and will be amazed at his precedent spiritual littleness. However, he will understand that his brothers who are now as he was, are also in need of his great wisdom in order to be able to grow as he did and become “spiritual” beings.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption; Angels, and Saints teach us wisdom.