Who is the better salesman: the devil or Jesus?
The devil promises all the things we want: good looks, prosperity, health, energy, friends, convenience, control, comfort, and a little comic relief. Our fallen nature is attracted to these things and draws back from things that are hard, that call us to give away part of ourselves or relinquish our sense of security. The world, the flesh, and the devil have immediate and almost irresistible ways to lure us off the narrow road with promises that cannot be kept.
The Lord keeps his promises without fail, but never conceals the cost of discipleship from his disciples. He tells us clearly that to gain eternal life, we must hate our lives in this world, take up our cross each day to follow him, and be willing to give up everything to have the pearl of great price. The Good News IS good, but its promise comes at a cost. It cost Jesus everything, and it costs each one of us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus even warns that his followers will be seized and persecuted, handed over by relatives and friends, hated, and even put to death; this is hardly good marketing!
But none of us likes the bait and switch. We don’t like to be lured into saying yes to something, only to find out we’ve been duped. We are willing to invest in things of lasting value, provided we have confidence that it will last.
So, while Jesus does not conceal the cost, He also holds out the glorious promise that only he can keep. He promises us the only thing of lasting value: eternal life and security and joy and love in a shining peaceful Kingdom that has no end. An eternity of bliss.
Today, let’s be determined to reject the devil’s temptations, which are always a bait and switch: we think we will have everything, and we end up with nothing. Let’s embrace all that Jesus promises, and ask for the grace to be willing to let go of everything in this world, so that we will be blessed to receive all that really matters – forever.
¿Quién es el mejor vendedor: el diablo o Jesús?
El diablo promete todas las cosas que queremos: buena apariencia, prosperidad, salud, energía, amigos, conveniencia, control, comodidad y un poco de sentido de humor. Nuestra naturaleza caída se siente atraída por estas cosas y se aleja de las que son difíciles, que nos llaman a entregar parte de nosotros mismos o a renunciar a nuestro sentido de seguridad. El mundo, la carne y el diablo tienen formas inmediatas y casi irresistibles de apartarnos del camino angosto con promesas que no pueden cumplir.
El Señor cumple sus promesas sin falta, pero nunca oculta a sus discípulos el costo del discipulado. Nos dice claramente que para ganar la vida eterna, debemos odiar nuestras vidas en este mundo, tomar nuestra cruz cada día para seguirlo y estar dispuestos a renunciar a todo para tener la perla de gran precio. La Buena Nueva ES buena, pero su promesa tiene un costo. Le costó todo a Jesús, y nos cuesta a cada uno de nosotros. En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús incluso advierte que sus seguidores serán apresados y perseguidos, entregados por familiares y amigos, odiados e incluso condenados a muerte; ¡esto no es una buena estrategia de marketing!
Pero a ninguno de nosotros nos gustan las trampas. No nos gusta que nos engañen para que digamos que sí a algo y luego descubramos que nos han engañado. Estamos dispuestos a invertir en cosas de valor duradero, siempre y cuando tengamos la confianza que durarán.
Así que, aunque Jesús no oculta el costo, también nos ofrece la gloriosa promesa que solo él puede cumplir. Nos promete lo único que tiene valor duradero: vida eterna, seguridad, alegría y amor en un Reino resplandeciente y pacífico que no tiene fin. Una eternidad de felicidad.
Hoy, vamos a decidirnos a rechazar las tentaciones del diablo, que siempre son una trampa: pensamos que lo tendremos todo y terminamos sin nada. Abracemos todo lo que Jesús promete y pidamos la gracia de estar dispuestos a dejar ir todo en este mundo, para que seamos bendecidos y recibamos todo lo que realmente importa, para siempre.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: cottonbro studio, www.pexels.com/photo/man-looking-at-a-gift-box-6116877/
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