Wednesday, September 28, 2016 26th Week
in Ordinary Time 1st
Reading: Jb 9: 1-12. 14-16 Gospel: Luke 9:57-62
As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 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 another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he answered, “Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” And Jesus said to him, “Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life
Experience)
This advertisement was posted at a repair shop’s main door: “We repair anything (Please knock hard on the door because the doorbell is out of order).” The advertisement suffers credibility for obvious reasons. Commitment to service is one thing; credibility is another! This leads us to a deeper reflection on today’s Gospel message. Three kinds of people wanted to follow Jesus. The most radical of them said, “Lord I will follow you wherever you go”. Jesus sized up his readiness for the consequences of his radical decision by telling him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” This person represents the many of us whose commitment to Jesus suffers credibility because of ulterior motives. While Jesus promises the hundredfold reward, it is wrong to make this reward the primary consideration in following him.
The second and the third persons attached their decisions to suspensive conditions. The second said, “Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father.” The third person said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” Jesus disapproved both conditions. He emphasized unconditional commitment instead. These two persons represent the many whose commitment to Jesus suffers credibility because of so many conditions attached. No one can serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24). No one can serve two masters. Where certain conditions are imposed, service to God amounts to nothing because God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:4-5).
The same lack of credibility afflicts modern discipleship that promotes the “Hobby now, pray later” policy. But the “later” won’t always come. The bell of life is not out of order. When it has to ring it rings. When it does, only the credible will gain eternal life. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM, MMExM, MAPM, REB. Email:[email protected].
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