MASS READINGS A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 9:51-62
When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “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.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
REFLECTION
“Follow me”
Just this week some of us have gone through a heavy burden, betrayal, loss of hope, despair, sadness, abandonment along with times of joy, happiness and appreciation. Jesus has told us, “Follow me” but did not promise a life free of highs and lows.
In these extremes we have found the presence of the Lord: When we cry out,
“why?” or when we face disappointment and ask “Did I not pray enough?“ or we allow ourselves to be sad because our desires or expectations were not met. The sweetest encounter is when He finds us and brings us back.
God hears all this and reminds me that I am but just 5 feet of dust and nothing else and that I have a mistaken sense of holiness and worthiness. However, inspite of my shortcomings, I am still asked by God to follow Him. What can I do?
It‘s not what can I do but what He has done and continues to do. Just this morning I had one of those talks with God coupled with several bouts of self pity. And His answer was right there during the homily and in His invite to abandon without looking back, to receive His living Body and Blood as food for my starving soul.
If you are to be what God wants you to be, then we must stop being selfish, prideful, unkind and unloving. He has given us His Divine Life. Nothing interfering with my relationship with God should be allowed.
Walk away from the whiner, the rude person, the complainer. Be aware of our abilities and capacities, our strengths and weaknesses. See temptation for what it is and immediately run to God, and He will let you see Him. And then you can and will follow Him.
God bless you.
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