Gospel: Luke 9: 57-63
Jesus encounters people who want to follow him, but set conditions on it. They are willing to follow, but only so far. Such is true of the disciples in general. They enjoy Mt. Tabor, but when mention of the cross takes place they object and demur. They enjoy it when Jesus heals others, delivers people from their demons, and feeds them - as long as it is for people they do not object to. But if it is done for Samaritans, women, foreigners, children, the unclean - well, then they object and following Jesus isn't so easy.
How often do we find ourselves placing conditions on our discipleship? We find ourselves following Jesus to a point, but then going no farther. We object to the cross. We find it galling that Jesus cares for that person I do not like, and we find ourselves either halting our walk with the Lord, or reinventing Jesus in our own image and likeness in order to accommodate our prejudices and preferences.
But half-measures will not do. We cannot arrive at the Resurrection without first walking the way of the Cross. We cannot exclude others from the Kingdom of God and justify our own spot in it, for whatever criteria of exclusion we use on others can just as easily be applied to ourselves. Discipleship and the kingdom are both invitations, not entitlements, and responsibilities to bear with love and openness.
No comments:
Post a Comment