He does not exactly encourage the three people who approach Him: He outlines in a most concrete manner what they need to expect if they follow Him, and it is not wealth, glory, or a stability or a peace that is of this world.

Wednesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time

Nehemiah 2:1-8

Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

L uke 9:57-62 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." (58) 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." (59) To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." (60) But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (61) Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." (62) Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Meditation by Chas Kestermeier, S.J.

L uke has put together three short passages that give us a picture of a Jesus that we don't often see, a Jesus whom I would say is burning with zeal, absolutely driven by the Spirit.  This Jesus is a whirlwind, His hand on the plow and eager to proclaim the Kingdom, the Good News, to a world waiting for hope and relief from the loneliness of the human condition.  He does not exactly encourage the three people who approach Him: He outlines in a most concrete manner what they need to expect if they follow Him, and it is not wealth, glory, or a stability or a peace that is of this world.

Here Jesus turns his back on...  what?  A fixed home or situation, family and its comfort and obligations.  He chooses to live with a poverty of place, of family, and of attachments, depending only on His Father and on doing His Father's will.

As for me, do I possess my memories, places, and things, or do they possess me?  And my values, principles, and priorities?  They do define me, to a certain extent, but am I free of them?  Can I always be ready to become other, more, and new, or do I let the past define me completely and rigidly?  I can't totally escape from the influence of that material reality that extends beyond air, water, food, clothing, and shelter, but am I free with all of that extra?

Do I place it all in God's hands and then receive it back from Him as a complete gift and a call to work with Him personally?

If so, I might be able to find the same freedom that Jesus exhibits and live with the same energy and zeal that He does.

Supplementary Reading

NEVER Too lATE

Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last. – Matthew 20:16

I was early for Mass that day. There was plenty of time to pray, read and reflect on the Gospel. But instead of praying, I got caught up observing people who were entering the church.

Then a few minutes before the Mass, a friend came in. Instead of chatting with me, she just gave me a polite smile and went about praying intently. I felt ashamed of myself. Christian life is a journey and we all aim for the same destination — a life united with God. While others may have started early and have come a long way, it’s never too late to start the journey and get the same reward. It’s not a matter of when we start to offer our lives to Christ but how we went about following His will in our lives.

God can use us and transform us at any time we decide to follow Him. It is just a matter of being faithful in our commitment to do away with sin and to strive harder to live a life pleasing to Him. Jane Gonzales

REFLECTION:

H ow long has it been since we surrendered our lives to Christ? Have we grown as a Christian or have we been lukewarm in our faith all this time?

Dear God, forgive me for those times when I seem to forget You. Turn my sight from this world and help me to seek only You with my body, mind and soul. Amen.