1 Cor 15:12-20 / Luke 8:1-3
We may wonder if following Jesus then would be any easier than following Jesus now.
At least going by today's gospel passage, we would have guessed that following Jesus would mean being on the road always.
Jesus made His way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God.
With Him went the Twelve and also some women and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.
So there was always this uncertainty of what was going to happen next. And they were like living from hand to mouth. And shelter for the night was not guaranteed.
Having understood that, being a Christian nowadays, and especially in Singapore, seems rather comfortable and acceptable.
Yet, when life becomes too comfortable and secure, then like what St. Paul said in the 1st reading: If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.
Because we will forget what the Resurrection is; we forget what dying to ourselves is; we forget what suffering is; we forget what it means to provide for others out of our own resources.
Following Jesus then is not any easier than following Jesus now. In fact it may be more difficult and challenging. Some would even have to face the mortal peril of losing their heads for being a Christian.
But in the face of challenges and difficulties, our hope in Christ is not just in this life. There is a higher life beyond. When we rise up to the challenges and difficulties, we will also rise to that life.