An very elderly priest was celebrating his platinum jubilee of his priestly ordination. 
The 90-year old priest, during the felicitation program was asked: 

“You have lived such an inspiring priestly life. 

What advice would you like to give to the younger generation of Christians and especially priests?”
With a  feeble yet firm voice, the nonagenarian replied:

” Just a simple formula…

Look to Jesus! Listen to Jesus! Learn of Jesus!”

What a lovely piece of advice, isn’t it?
>> Looking to Jesus…

>> Listening to Jesus…

>> Learning of Jesus….

… are simple yet effective means to follow the Lord, with deeper commitment and zeal.

The Gospel of the Day is this call of the Lord to follow Him more closely…

… and to introspect our motivations and motives in being a Christian

The Gospel passage presents three people who seek to follow the Lord.
These three, present before us…

… three aspects of hurdles/barriers in following the Lord.

 
These are:

1. Comforts

2. Convenience

3. Distractions

1. A “comfortable style” of following the Lord
The first person comes up to Jesus and says: “I will follow you wherever you go” (Lk 9: 57)

>> But Jesus reminds him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest His Head” (Lk 9: 58a)
This man had probably heard or seen the Lord…

… as a mighty miracle-worker

… as a popular preacher

… as a laudable leader
These were “comforts” that would be assured in following Jesus

>> And so perhaps, the man chose this “comfortable style of following the Lord!”
But the Lord prohibits from seeking Him for the sake of comforts alone!
2. A “convenient style” of following the Lord
The second person is asked by the Lord to “Follow” Him (Lk 9: 59b)

>> But he replies, “Let me first go and bury my father” (Lk 9: 59b)
“Bury my father” was a Jewish (Arabic) way of saying….

… one must stay in one’s house till the death of the father and settle the inheritance of the property. 
The man was yielding into to conveniences in following the Lord…

… “when I am convenient in my family, I will follow You”

… “when I am convenient in my personal life, I will follow You”
3. A “distractive style” of following the Lord

 
The third person said, “I will follow you Lord, but first let me say farewell to my home” (Lk 9:61)

>> But Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plough and looks to what is left behind, is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Lk 9: 62)
This person had the goodwill to follow Jesus…

… but was distracted in his motivation.

We need to introspect our motivations and motives in being a Christian…
>> Is my following of the Lord of a “comfortable style” …

… looking for only the comforts of prosperity and material riches…?

… being close to the Lord only in times of comfort…?
>> Is my following of the Lord of a “convenient style” …

… seeking to be with the Lord only when I “feel like” 

… adjusting my relationship with God as per my needs and conveniences

>> Is my following of the Lord of a “distractive style” …

… easily straying away from the path with worldly attractions

… failing to do the Will of God owing to distractive habits and tendencies

The Lord longs to have us following Him…

… more sincerely and more passionately!
May we always….

… Look to Jesus!

… Listen to Jesus!

… Learn of Jesus!

God Bless! Live Jesus!