EPIPHANY 3
Dcn. Dan Farley
Matthew 19:27-30
Our Gospel reading today highlights an important message. Right before the passage we just heard, Jesus warns about the perils of wealth, stating, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” However, it’s not just material wealth that we often cling to. The disciples had given up all their possessions—at least in a material sense and based on their understanding at that time. Jesus would continue to challenge them to relinquish even more, leading Peter to ask, “We’ve given up everything to follow you; what will we receive in return? You’ve promised us something greater, but what is it?” This prompts Jesus to encourage his disciples once more to relinquish all that they hold on to. “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
Jesus urges them to relinquish everything that holds the greatest significance for a Jewish individual. This includes not only wealth and physical belongings but also their land and family ties. Such demands challenge their core identity, as abandoning family signifies renouncing their heritage as descendants of Abraham, while letting go of land entails forfeiting the inheritance tied to that lineage. Despite the specific promises God made to Abraham and his offspring, the reality is that Jesus offers something greater. The former assurances of an earthly kingdom and its associated blessings find their fulfillment in Jesus, who paves the path to a much superior heavenly kingdom and its blessings. Land and family hold significance for us as well, though not in the same manner. Jesus’ caution about wealth likely resonates more with us today, but we also place our trust in a variety of other things—such as money, employment, belongings, relationships, status, and various good deeds. Letting go of these attachments is challenging, but it is necessary.
Today as we celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul, The story of Saul of Tarsus offers hope in this regard; if God was able to transform Saul and inspire him to relinquish everything, then there is hope for us too. In today’s Epistle, we learn about Saul, who first appears in the account of Stephen’s stoning. Saul was holding the coats of those who threw stones, making it easier for them to participate. As a young Pharisee, Acts 9 describes him as “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord,” revealing his deep-seated hatred for Christians, which drove him to take on a vigilante role. He learned that there were Christians about 150 miles away in Damascus. Although Damascus was in a different country, Saul was passionate about his faith and dedicated to God. He had heard about Jesus and felt relieved when Pilate had put a stop to his claims of being the Messiah. However, Jesus’ followers didn’t take the hint; they were asserting that Jesus had risen, and instead of fading away, the movement was expanding among the synagogues. Therefore, Saul secured permission from the high priest to journey to distant Damascus in order to arrest these Jewish Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for a heresy trial. If the high priest wasn’t going to defend the faith, Saul was determined to take matters into his own hands and obtain extradition papers.
And so, he set off, but Luke recounts that Saul had an extraordinary encounter along the way: a bright light from heaven surrounded him. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice asking, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” To which he replied, “Who are you, Lord?” The voice identified itself as Jesus, the one Saul was persecuting, and instructed him to get up, go into the city, and await further instructions. The men accompanying him were left in silence, hearing a voice but not seeing anyone. Saul got up from the ground, and even though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. They guided him by the hand and took him to Damascus. For three days, he was blind and did not eat or drink. Consider the implications for Saul. He later describes himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews, having thoroughly studied the Scriptures, theology, and philosophy with top scholars. As a Pharisee, he was fervently devoted to the law. He had a deep passion for God, God’s people, and God’s kingdom. This zeal is what led him to persecute Christians, whom he viewed as a danger to that kingdom. However, Jesus personally confronts him and reveals that he was completely mistaken. Unexpectedly, what he had been so certain was incorrect and had been fervently opposing proved to be true. Saul was abruptly compelled to abandon everything as his understanding of faith evolved, now centered around Jesus the Messiah. Sometimes, we need a significant event to really engage our attention. Jesus invites us to surrender everything to follow him. For some, this journey may involve reaching their lowest point—losing family, friends, reputation, money, or belongings. For others, it may manifest as a decline in health. Some experience a profound intellectual awakening.
This makes me think of C.S. Lewis, who wrote about how he came to believe in Christianity and returned to his college that evening feeling like the most despondent convert in history. Similar to Saul of Tarsus, he faced a profound truth that compelled him to reevaluate everything he had committed to. Lewis later remarked that this humbling experience led him to unexpected joy. Saul’s encounter mirrored this; his meeting with Jesus was both humbling and frightening, yet it ultimately filled him with joy. Through this experience, he recognized his own sinfulness while simultaneously being welcomed by Jesus’s loving grace. The one who could acknowledge his status as the greatest of sinners also experienced the redeeming love of Jesus. Brothers and sisters, this is how we can surrender everything to follow Jesus—by fully committing ourselves to him. This commitment allows us to relinquish all and find our true identity in him. When we realize the extent of our sinful and foolish defiance against our Creator, we also find that we are still held in his love, granted forgiveness and renewal, and invited to be his representatives in the world. When we struggle to be generous, release attachments, abandon sin, seek holiness, and stay close to Jesus, we should reflect on his incredible grace. Remember the Incarnation and the Cross. Recall the humility and suffering of our Lord, who lowered himself and endured pain for you and me—foolish and rebellious sinners—so that we could be reconciled with him and restored to life. In Jesus, God sacrificed everything for us; therefore, let us also be willing to give everything for him.
Matthew 19:27-30
King James Version
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.