A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mt 8:18-22
When Jesus saw a crowd around him,he gave orders to cross to the other shore.A scribe approached and said to him,“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”Another of his disciples said to him,“Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”But Jesus answered him, “Follow me,and let the dead bury their dead.”
REFLECTION
“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
From all eternity before we were created, God has a plan for us. It is Jesus who looks for us and calls us. He invites us to follow Him. He tells us it won't be easy. You might not have a place to lay your head or money. You might have to rely on others for food. But if God calls you, are you ready to follow Jesus wherever He may lead you?
It is easy to say "yes" when we are well rested or reading this scripture in an air conditioned room, or having no hunger pangs. What does it cost us now in 2021 to be a disciple and follower of the Lord Jesus?
Jesus wants us to choose God's Kingdom first and to detach ourselves from anything that keeps us from following Him. We are His channels and created to serve Him. Some of our vocations may be in the religious life, a family life, a life of service or discoverer or doer of great things.
Are we willing to speak with our actions, are we willing to sacrifice, are we ready to be the footprints of 2021?
The saint for the day, St Iraneus, lived in the second century. As Bishop of Lyons, he worked hard against the Gnostics who taught that the knowledge about Jesus was only passed on to just a few. He was able to logically prove that the teachings of the apostles and the Holy Scripture given to us by Jesus were open to all. He followed Jesus and out of his love for Him, gave his all to God.
He had great patience and always wanted to win over his opponents rather than prove them wrong or in error.
We just witnessed the ordination of a new priest, Father Thinh. He has decided to choose for God's kingdom first and to detach himself from anything that might keep him from following the Lord. Pray for him daily as he has decided to have the most wonderful and greatest relationship. And through the Holy Spirit may we, too, be detached and follow Jesus through trials, insults, illnesses, the cross and death.
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