13th Sunday of Ordinary Time: C 1Kgs.19:16, 19-21; Gal. 5:1, 13-18; Lk.9:51-62 True discipleship Once there was a powerful king who had a mighty army. His kingdom was surrounded by high mountains. One day with his army he swooped down the mountains and attacked the neighboring country. The king confiscated everything he could. He packed all the gold, silver, and jewels in the boxes and carried them away. As they were climbing the high mountains one of the camels stumbled against a stone and fell down. The box which the camel was carrying dropped to the ground and was broken. Hundreds of gold coins and jewels were scattered and rolled along the path. The king declared with a broad and magnificent gesture to his followers “Keep for yourselves all that you could gather.” The king continued his journey alone while his followers had stayed back to fill their pockets. After sometimes, to his surprise, the king heard the noise of some footsteps behind him. He turned back and saw his little servant. The king asked him, “Why are you coming after me? Why did you not avail yourself such an excellent opportunity?” The little servant bowed his head and said, “Your Majesty, I do not want any gold or jewels. My only desire is to follow you wherever you go.” How touching the love and fidelity which the little servant had towards his king. He did not care for the money and wealth. His only intention was to follow his king to be with him and to serve him. Praise the Lord God for the beautiful readings that we have just heard from the Holy Scriptures. They richly fed us with spiritual knowledge and understanding of true discipleship. The readings bring to our mind three important characteristics of which every follower of Christ is supposed to have: IDENTIFICATION, CONSECRATION, and DEDICATION. IDENTIFICATION: We see in the Gospel when Our Lord was journeying along the road a man came and said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To the first man – our Lord’s advice was – Before you follow me – think what you are doing. Before you follow me – count the cost. Jesus did not want followers who were swept away by a moment of emotion, which quickly blazed and just as quickly died. In any sphere of life men must be confronted with facts. For instance: If a student expresses a desire for scholarship, the principal would ask him, “Well, are you prepared to work hard to secure highest rank in the exam?” When an explorer is building up his team – he would ask each one – “Are you prepared to bear the snow, the biting cold and the scorching sun?” When a young person wishes to become an athlete the trainer would say, “Well, are you prepared for daily practices, self-discipline that will win you the gold medal?” The words of Jesus to the man must be understood this way. Well, if you wish to follow me – are you prepared to identify yourself with the lifestyle of mine which I live? Are you prepared to undergo trails, difficulties and hardships for my sake? Jesus never demanded from his disciples which he himself never experienced. But do we identify ourselves with the lifestyle of Jesus? Do we identify ourselves with the sacrificial life of Jesus? As Plummer says, “Jesus’ life began in a borrowed stable and ended in a borrowed tomb.” St. Paul says, “He lived like a poor man and died like a poor man.” How often do we not seek comforts, pleasures, glory and honor? CONSECRATION: To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” To the Jews it was a sacred duty to ensure a decent burial for a dead parent. When Jacob died Joseph asked permission from Pharaoh to go and bury his father. (Gen.50:5) In all probability the man’s father was not dead. His saying most likely meant, “I’ll follow you someday, when my father is dead.” He was in fact putting off his following of Jesus for many years to come. Jesus’ words to the second man may sound harsh. The point Jesus was making is that in everything there is a crucial moment. If that moment is missed the thing most likely will never be done at all. The Psychologists say that every time we have a fine feeling, and if we do not act on it immediately that opportunity will be lost forever. Good intentions die unless they are executed. DEDICATION: Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” No ploughman ever ploughed a straight furrow looking back his shoulder. There are some whose hearts are in the past. They walk ever looking backwards and thinking of good old days. A Christian above all every follower of Christ should not march towards the sunset, but towards the dawn. The watchword of the kingdom is not “backward” but “Forward”. Many a time we recapitulate our past good deeds, glorious achievements and so on. Let us not look back what had happened in the past. Herbert Hoover says, “Never worry about anything that is past. There are always plenty of troubles ahead, so don’t turn and look back on any behind you.” Worries does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. Ninety-nine percent of the things people worry about never happen. The other one percent is unavoidable. So let us remember these three characteristics in our life. Jesus’ call is radical, without ‘if’ and ‘but’, without reserve and condition, but whole hearted. There are two words used a great deal by Jesus in the Gospel. One is ‘Come’ and other is ‘Go’. It is no use coming unless you go, and it’s no use going unless you come. Yes, our following Jesus is always a going out of ourselves to bear the good news to the whole world. Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Jun 2013 03:02:14 +0000
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