Breaking the Word

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible." 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. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Mt 19:23-30)

Salvation is a gift of God. Gift is given. It cannot be asked for. It cannot be acquired. It cannot be bought. It cannot be achieved. If achieved then it is a prize. Similarly the kingdom of God is also. Entry into the kingdom cannot be achieved. Entry ticket is not bought. Money cannot buy the kingdom and money cannot make one a member of the kingdom. Money and kingdom are opposed values.

Disciples have left everything and followed Jesus. They have left everything which means they have nothing with them except Jesus. They cannot but follow him. He is the only relation to belong to, he is the only way to follow, he is the only person to love, he is the only person to serve in a sense he is everything. They have left everything and Jesus is everything for the disciples.

The reward for this is that they become the leaders and judges of the twelve tribes of the new Israel. They have everything in Jesus and Jesus becomes everything for them. All what they have left they get back hundredfold. Besides this they also inherit eternal life. 

 During those days Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?…

Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my saviour…

 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.(Lk1:39-56)

Two 'mothers-to-be' celebrate. A beautiful scene created by Luke. The babes in the wombs recognize each other (!!!) and they too rejoice. What would have been the reason for such a joy and celebration? Could it be a celebration for life? Mothers coming together were certainly to greet each other about their motherhood. There is joy in being a mother and there is joy in bring forth life and the celebration is even before birth.

It is a celebration about God and his activities. Yes every celebration should centre on God. Everything that happens is the work of God and in fact everything that happens is a miracle of God. Certainly the births of John and Jesus were miracles of God. God is the source of celebration and God is the reason for celebration and God actions are for celebration and God's presence is the celebration.

Song of Mary echoes the celebration very well. God's long promised revolution is taking place in their times. Victory over the powers of evil is taking place. It is giving hope to the hopeless (Elizabeth). Power-brokers, money-makers etc are toppled. It is a celebration of God. God has taken the initiative and God is the ultimate reason to celebrate