The Would-be Followers of Jesus

Today's Reflections

                                                

 

The Would-be Followers of Jesus

Lk 9:57-62

⁵⁷As [Jesus and his disciples] were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” ⁵⁹And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.” ⁶⁰But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ⁶¹And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” ⁶²[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.”

NOWHERE TO REST HIS HEAD. When we are baptized, we make a promise through our parents and godparents to “reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness” and “to believe in Jesus Christ.” Such promise remains unbroken until we become conscious of violating God’s commands. As we grow older, we realize that it is not easy to reject Satan and follow Christ. And humbly we acknowledge the need for the sacrament of Reconciliation.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells a would-be follower to reconsider his proposal. We are not told whether the man eventually decides to follow Jesus who is so poor that he does not have a pillow on which to lay his head.

To follow the poor Christ is a big hindrance to many Christians. They prefer to live a comfortable life. This is one reason why few young people enter the seminary or the convent. And even fewer persevere, because most keep “looking back” to their parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends. As Jesus says, “No one who sets a hand to the plough and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” Truly, to follow Christ demands sacrifice.

What hinders you

from following Jesus more closely?