Already on this earth

Peter began to say to Jesus, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10: 28-31)

People will not always welcome Jesus's disciples and, indeed, they are often persecuted. Even today, persons of Christian faith are the most persecuted in the world. At least 75% of people killed because of their faith are followers of Jesus. Our tendency toward evil makes conversion difficult, hence it is more convenient to silence those who proclaim the Gospel than to listen to them. However, whenever we suffer harsh persecution, let us remember that the Lord promised to reward us already on this earth with much more than we’ve given to Him. Moreover, Jesus's intimacy with us will be the eternal reward granted to us in heaven.