Homily for Tuesday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel recounts Peter's question: "What about us? We have left everything and followed you." Peter and the others had sacrificed a lot to stay with Jesus. They questioned whether it was truly worth it. We, too, have answered His call, although not as drastically as the first disciples who abandoned their livelihoods and families for a very uncertain future. During moments of uncertainty, we may be tempted to ask: "Is it worth the effort, this struggle to live by the Gospel every day?"

The clear answer is, "Yes, it is worth the effort." Jesus assures us that when we give of ourselves for His sake, we will gain much more than we give up. We will experience a new sense of family beyond our blood relatives. We will find ourselves journeying with others who, like us, strive to live the Christian way. We will experience the warmth of the Church, the community of the Lord's followers. This community includes those of us still on our journey and all who have passed beyond this life, including the saints, the "great cloud of witnesses."