Gospel Reading for today: Luke 9:57-62
"I will follow you, Lord but..."
There is a famous saying that resonates to today's reading: "if there's a will, there's a way." Filipinos has a better version of this line with "Kapag gusto, maraming paraan; kapag ayaw, maraming dahilan."
The first follower:
In the gospel, there was one person who courageously told the Lord, "I will follow you." He didn't have any condition, any concerns, anything that he presented to God that would hinder him from following the Lord. And yet, Jesus told him that following him would not be that easy. It would be an inconvenient journey: "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." In this first scene, Jesus is purifying the intentions of the first "would-be" follower. It is as if Jesus is asking: "What is really your motivation for following me? Is it me or do you have hidden, selfish agenda for following me? Are you ready to live a life of discomfort, of uncertainty, of risks with me?"
To a person who has purified his intention to following Christ, these challenges posed by Jesus to him would be allayed by his great will to truly follow Christ --- "sa taong gusto, maraming paraan"
The second follower:
Jesus asked the second prospect, "Follow me." Yet, the response of that person to Jesus was to let him first bury his dead Father. Jesus' reply may sound a bit harsh because first of all, it is disrespectful to treat a dead loved one that way. Certainly, if that person has close ties with his dead father, he might have felt offended with Jesus' remark of letting the dead bury the dead. And he might even lose interest to following Christ. And yet, Jesus showed that NO ONE is excused from proclaiming the kingdom of God --- not even if you need to attend to the last rites of a dead father! Following Jesus starts now! Not after you have done what you have to do.
The third follower:
It was unclear if Jesus invited the third follower to follow him but it would seem that the third prospect was a more bit open to following Christ than the second one. But similarly, he had a request if he could first bid his family goodbye. For just one last time, can he say farewell to his loved ones? It might not take a long time to do it, and yet Jesus' answer was a difficult challenge that no one who has decided to follow him and still looks back at the life he has left behind is fit for the kingdom of God. It is as if Jesus is telling him that commitment to following him is detaching to things or people that will hinder him from moving forward, from doing the work for the kingdom. The one who wants to follow Christ is someone who can be present to the work, here and now, as it happens. A person undivided; and not someone who occasionally looks back at the life, the family, the friends, he has left behind. Because in doing so he forgets to be in the present, what is real now.
We can only surmise what Jesus' real intentions were in telling these people these things. But one thing is certain --- following Christ is following him NOW. We always associate following Jesus in making a radical decision, in changing lanes, in giving up something so precious to us that it makes the surrendering so difficult...yes, it may take us these things to follow Christ but what Jesus wants only from us is our YES. A yes borne out of our confidence in him; that in following him, we are moving forward the best decision we could ever make in our lives. Following Christ is following him NOW, wherever we are, whatever situations we might be in right now, whatever difficulties we might be experiencing now. There is no condition, there is no excuse. Jesus invites us to follow him and to proclaim the kingdom of God exactly where we are right now, how we are right now, and who we are right now.
It only takes a yes. That is only what Jesus wants and needs to hear. A confident yes, similar to Peter's response to Jesus when asked, "will you still go away?": "To whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Today's Gospel Reading: Luke 9:18-24
The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.' Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Who would ever want to follow someone after knowing that that person will suffer greatly, be rejected by the authorities and be killed? What's worse --- to predict that after being killed would be raised up on the third day? Who would ever want to follow this person who obviously is a lost cause?
It is easy for all Christians to say now that we are ready to follow Christ because we have already known that he indeed had suffered, rejected, killed and raised up on the third day. It is easy for us to believe because all happened according to his words. And yet it was different for his followers at that time. It was different for his apostles.
It might have been difficult to chew and to swallow these words from Christ, to come to terms with his predictions of his fate and what is expected from his disciples, to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, then follow him. It must have been difficult to make that decision to follow Christ at that time. It might have been easier to just leave this man and have nothing to do with him. And yet, there was something about this Jesus. There was something different about him that the apostles, being with him for quite some time, decided to deny themselves, leave their lives (their families, loved ones, livelihood, etc.) for his sake. There must have seen something in Jesus to stick with him (at least until that Thursday night).
What would it be? Who could it be? There is only one way to find out, and that is to closely follow this man. Follow his journey, listen to his words, observe his actions. This is the only way to find out. Only after this that we would know, we would see what the apostles knew, what the apostles saw in him. This is the only way our following of Christ will be more authentic, more real, more practical. This is the only way we can respond with conviction, "Yes, I will follow you, Lord."
The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.' Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Who would ever want to follow someone after knowing that that person will suffer greatly, be rejected by the authorities and be killed? What's worse --- to predict that after being killed would be raised up on the third day? Who would ever want to follow this person who obviously is a lost cause?
It is easy for all Christians to say now that we are ready to follow Christ because we have already known that he indeed had suffered, rejected, killed and raised up on the third day. It is easy for us to believe because all happened according to his words. And yet it was different for his followers at that time. It was different for his apostles.
It might have been difficult to chew and to swallow these words from Christ, to come to terms with his predictions of his fate and what is expected from his disciples, to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, then follow him. It must have been difficult to make that decision to follow Christ at that time. It might have been easier to just leave this man and have nothing to do with him. And yet, there was something about this Jesus. There was something different about him that the apostles, being with him for quite some time, decided to deny themselves, leave their lives (their families, loved ones, livelihood, etc.) for his sake. There must have seen something in Jesus to stick with him (at least until that Thursday night).
What would it be? Who could it be? There is only one way to find out, and that is to closely follow this man. Follow his journey, listen to his words, observe his actions. This is the only way to find out. Only after this that we would know, we would see what the apostles knew, what the apostles saw in him. This is the only way our following of Christ will be more authentic, more real, more practical. This is the only way we can respond with conviction, "Yes, I will follow you, Lord."
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Today's Gospel Reading: John 11:45-46
Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish."
The wisdom of Caiaphas. It is amazing how profound this prophesy was from the high priest, Caiaphas. (Although the sentence following it said that this, he did not say it on his own). How noble, how loving for one to say that it is better for one man to die so that a whole nation may live; but the irony of these words is that the one who said it was not the one who was willing to give up his life for others. These are words of somebody who sees himself too valuable and too worthy to be sacrificed. The words are great but the motivation may not be.
But Caiaphas was not alone. Have we also looked into ourselves when we say things that promote good and value and yet, are empty because we expect others to do it? We felt that our suggestions on how to do things are already our contribution to make things better. We never consider that more than stringing beautiful words that create meanings, acting on them makes them even more meaningful.
Similarly, as we enter into the celebration of our own passover this coming holy week, which will commence tomorrow, Palm Sunday, we are invited to reflect on the words of exaltation given to Jesus by the crowd. Are we truly excited to see him enter into our lives this holy week? to be one with his experience? to relive the act of love and selflessness that he has done for us, for the love of the Father? Do we believe that he is ever-creating as anew, making present his act of love every minute of our every moment? or are we just like some of the members of the crowd who might just have been influenced by the mob to welcome Jesus and yet did not really know him at all, did not really realize who he is in their lives?
As we PREPARE for the coming of Jesus into our lives this coming lent, let us start recognizing who he truly is to us --- so that when we wave our branches and palms tomorrow, we can genuinely feel the excitement, the gratitude to welcome our Lord, who has done great things for us.
Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish."
The wisdom of Caiaphas. It is amazing how profound this prophesy was from the high priest, Caiaphas. (Although the sentence following it said that this, he did not say it on his own). How noble, how loving for one to say that it is better for one man to die so that a whole nation may live; but the irony of these words is that the one who said it was not the one who was willing to give up his life for others. These are words of somebody who sees himself too valuable and too worthy to be sacrificed. The words are great but the motivation may not be.
But Caiaphas was not alone. Have we also looked into ourselves when we say things that promote good and value and yet, are empty because we expect others to do it? We felt that our suggestions on how to do things are already our contribution to make things better. We never consider that more than stringing beautiful words that create meanings, acting on them makes them even more meaningful.
Similarly, as we enter into the celebration of our own passover this coming holy week, which will commence tomorrow, Palm Sunday, we are invited to reflect on the words of exaltation given to Jesus by the crowd. Are we truly excited to see him enter into our lives this holy week? to be one with his experience? to relive the act of love and selflessness that he has done for us, for the love of the Father? Do we believe that he is ever-creating as anew, making present his act of love every minute of our every moment? or are we just like some of the members of the crowd who might just have been influenced by the mob to welcome Jesus and yet did not really know him at all, did not really realize who he is in their lives?
As we PREPARE for the coming of Jesus into our lives this coming lent, let us start recognizing who he truly is to us --- so that when we wave our branches and palms tomorrow, we can genuinely feel the excitement, the gratitude to welcome our Lord, who has done great things for us.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Today's Gospel Reading: Mark 8:27-35
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
In this incident, we have a glimpse on how close Peter might have been with Jesus to be able to take him aside and to rebuke him. Their relationship might really have been that of the best of friends, that of brothers. Peter might be concerned with Jesus' reputation when the latter foretold his disciples about his imminent fate, or maybe he was concerned about their reputation --- what if their followers would fall away after what Jesus said (that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected...and be killed and rise after three days.) We do not really know the motivation of Peter for rebuking Jesus right after he said these things. All we know is that he could speak openly to Jesus. And maybe Peter was taken aback when Jesus rebuked him as well.
Peter, who had just professed Jesus as the "Christ," and to whom Jesus said that it was God, his Father, who revealed this to him, was the same Peter whom Jesus addressed as Satan for thinking not as God does.
This reality can be a wake-up call for all of us, followers of Christ, who may have grown lax in our own following of Christ, in striving to think as he thinks, sense as he senses, do things as he does. We might not notice it but we may have been becoming lukewarms --- content in just knowing that since our faith is in God, in Jesus, this is already enough. Well it is. But as St. James forewarned us in the 2nd reading,"faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead." He further made his point by saying, "Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works."
May we not deem our closeness with Jesus as a reason to slack in discerning where the Spirit is moving us. Peter might have fallen in this trap of carelessly saying things without reflecting it from the heart. Good thing, Jesus can also be blunt as to criticize him, and put him in his place: "You are thinking not as God does."
How is it then to think as God does? Can we know the thoughts of God? Didn't Jesus say, "Be perfect as my Father in heaven is perfect?" What is this perfection mean? Again, perfection if attributed to God, speaks of his essence and nature as trinity ---- a community of love. He is not just love. God is also a communion of persons. Therefore, to think like God is to be like him --- to always be in communion with others grounded in love.
Our profession of our faith in Jesus Christ must not stop with our spoken words. May we embody whom we profess and be worthy of his name when we call ourselves Christians.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Today's Reading: Luke 6:39-42
You hypocrite!
Jesus addressed his disciples with a parable. He spoke of the tendency of people to notice the splinter on other people's eyes while not perceiving the wooden beam in their own eyes. How sometimes we can appear concerned with other people's weaknesses and limitations that we want to help them improve themselves and change their ways; while we spend little time to look in ourselves and see that we also need help to change.
"You hypocrite!" These words from Jesus came so strongly, enough to shake and agitate his hearers. It is very unusual of Jesus to speak in such tone. In the Gospel, we can count few instances when Jesus seemed irate: during the cleansing of the temple; during a storm at sea when he criticized his disciples, especially Peter, for having "little faith"; and every time he encounters hypocrites (may it be a pharisee or one of his disciples, he does not distinguish).This may be because when we judge others based on our standard (or at least what we think is right), we may already, though unintentionally, making ourselves gods. Jesus had to remind us time and time again that there is only one standard we should follow: God's (Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect). Perfection here points not to God's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence; but to God's mercy and compassion.
The only person we can judge is ourselves. Because only us can see what's inside our heart. Similarly, we cannot judge others even if their actions may seem contrary to what is right because we do not really know what their motivations are.
And yet, does this mean that we should just let them be and not mind them anymore? No. But what we should consider is the way we relate with those we want to "correct." Why are we doing it? If the reason is that we love them, then it is crucial that we try to understand them first and put ourselves in their shoes. Only when we see things as they see them, can we help them see things our way. Who knows? It may be the wooden beam in our eyes which prevents us from seeing things correctly.
Now, if the reason we do it is that we want to make ourselves feel better or superior by contrasting ourselves to them; then rightly, Jesus' words, "You hypocrite!" must be troubling for us.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
May 20, 2009
Today's Reading: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1
What you therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything...so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
A beautiful exhortation from Paul to the people of Athens. A beautiful reminder for us too who tried to seek God (to the extent of "groping" for him) that the God whom we intend and grope for is not too far from us. If we try to just feel his nearness to us, we can actually feel his breathing against our face. That's how close God is from us. Sometimes, we just tend to look him in other places, or we are busy "serving" him, doing things for him that we sometimes, if not most of the time, we fail to notice him, and recognize him, whom we are serving. And yet, there are times, when what he only wants from us is to spend some quiet time with him. Because only in that quiet time that we can feel that he's there, he's beside us, and know that he has already given everything to us.
Let this be a reminder that the God we seek is not far from us, just feel and you will know that he is there.
Today's Reading: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1
What you therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything...so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.
A beautiful exhortation from Paul to the people of Athens. A beautiful reminder for us too who tried to seek God (to the extent of "groping" for him) that the God whom we intend and grope for is not too far from us. If we try to just feel his nearness to us, we can actually feel his breathing against our face. That's how close God is from us. Sometimes, we just tend to look him in other places, or we are busy "serving" him, doing things for him that we sometimes, if not most of the time, we fail to notice him, and recognize him, whom we are serving. And yet, there are times, when what he only wants from us is to spend some quiet time with him. Because only in that quiet time that we can feel that he's there, he's beside us, and know that he has already given everything to us.
Let this be a reminder that the God we seek is not far from us, just feel and you will know that he is there.
Monday, May 18, 2009
May 18, 2009
Today's Gospel: John 15:26-16:4a
I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
Following Christ is not easy. In today's Gospel, he warned his disciples of the imminent dangers that are before them should they continue the work Christ asked them to do. He never promised a friendship that is easy. He never said it will be devoid of any hardships, sufferings, sacrifices. And he did not hide this reality from his disciples. Even at the start, he already prepared them, told them what they could expect in pursuing the path of discipleship.
Not much has also changed for us who decided to follow Christ. It is the same warning: this path is not an easy path, thus, some call this the "road-less-traveled." But still, in spite of knowing this, in spite of even experiencing first-hand what Christ had described, why do we still follow Christ? Why did the disciples, the martyrs, and the saints still chose to follow and tread on this path?
Because together with this is a promise of an Advocate. Someone who will stand beside us, who will be there to "defend" us, who will "act" on our behalf. This is the Holy Spirit. He, who proceeds from the Father and who was sent to us to testify to Jesus. We can follow Jesus' path because we have the Spirit. The Spirit works through us and in us. It is that presence that even if we know the work is not easy, we still push through, we still persevere. The Spirit moves us and encourages us to go on.
Today's Gospel: John 15:26-16:4a
I have told you this so that you may not fall away.
Following Christ is not easy. In today's Gospel, he warned his disciples of the imminent dangers that are before them should they continue the work Christ asked them to do. He never promised a friendship that is easy. He never said it will be devoid of any hardships, sufferings, sacrifices. And he did not hide this reality from his disciples. Even at the start, he already prepared them, told them what they could expect in pursuing the path of discipleship.
Not much has also changed for us who decided to follow Christ. It is the same warning: this path is not an easy path, thus, some call this the "road-less-traveled." But still, in spite of knowing this, in spite of even experiencing first-hand what Christ had described, why do we still follow Christ? Why did the disciples, the martyrs, and the saints still chose to follow and tread on this path?
Because together with this is a promise of an Advocate. Someone who will stand beside us, who will be there to "defend" us, who will "act" on our behalf. This is the Holy Spirit. He, who proceeds from the Father and who was sent to us to testify to Jesus. We can follow Jesus' path because we have the Spirit. The Spirit works through us and in us. It is that presence that even if we know the work is not easy, we still push through, we still persevere. The Spirit moves us and encourages us to go on.
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