GOSPEL: LK 9:57-62
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As Jesus and his disciples 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.” Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was le behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
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The word DISCIPLE is replete with meaning. The disciple must be disposed and available, like Mary who made herself ready as the handmaid of the Lord (in poverty of lifestyle). The disciple offers himself not partly but integrally, that is, his whole being—mind, will, and heart. His life must not be self-serving but must be geared toward service for others (not just his family). Discipleship is a lifetime commitment; no return, no exchange. The intentionality or purpose of his life is to do the mission of Jesus, and not be distracted by other concerns, like “burying the dead.” When the disciple follows Jesus, he must be ready to persevere, to finish what he started (“No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God”). The disciple listens to the will of God in prayer, even as he listens to the “signs of the times” where the Spirit of the Lord leads him. The disciple should be ready to endure the hardships and sacrifices that result from following Jesus on the way of the cross of everyday life.
One of the best ways to know, love, and follow Jesus is to know the Bible. St. Jerome, whose feast we celebrate today, said, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
