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27 Then Peter responded to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you who have followed me, at the resurrection when the Son of Man sits upon his throne of glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Isreal. 29 Whoever has left house or home, brother or sister, mother or father, wife or children for the sake of my name will receive and hundredfold in return, and inherit eternal life. 30 Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

Comments

When Peter points out that the apostles have left everything to follow him, Jesus tells him that they will receive a hundredfold in return. They will share in his glory and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

Chapter 19 of Mt is especially important to those in Catholic consecrated life, because it is the source of the values traditionally known as the Evangelical Counsels: Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. These are three lifestyle stances that not all Christians are called to, but some live out as part of a radical commitment to the Gospel. Celibate chastity is the commitment to forgo marriage and family life for the sake of being fully dedicated to mission. In verses 11-12, Jesus observes that it is a grace granted to some, who should live by it if they can. In verse 21, Jesus tells the rich young man that if he wants to be perfect, he should give away he wealth to the poor, embracing material poverty as part of his commitment to God. In verses 28-29, Jesus commends the apostles for leaving behind everything to follow him. They have been fully obedient to him, and so they will share in his glory.

When religious brothers and sisters enter their orders, they profess a vow of chastity, a vow of poverty, and a vow of obedience. These vows are what makes them religious brothers and sisters and shape the way they follow Jesus Christ for the rest of their lives. As the 2020 Marist Brothers Constitution states, “In response to the loving action of God that consecrates us as Religious Brothers, we offer ourselves to Him through the profession of the public vows of chastity, obedience and poverty. Following in the footsteps of Jesus we want to continue His mission and be a sign of brotherhood for our world” (Art 14).