“Making a choice to be a Disciple of Christ – and to be ever-faithful and a committed Christian!”

(Based on Amos 2:6-10, 13-16 and Mt 8:18-22 – Monday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A motivational speaker was addressing a group of youngsters…
… and was insisting on the importance of “making the right choices in life”

She quoted Ann Voskamp, a Canadian Author and said:
“Remember…
Busy is a choice!
Stress is a choice!
Joy is a choice!
Choose well….!”

Our choices go a long way, in determining the quality of our life!

Christianity requires us to make choices…
… choices for the Kingdom
… choices of Kingdom virtues over worldly ways

In a world where there is an insistent inclination to the “Instant”….

Instant Coffees…
Instant Food…
Instant Juices…
Instant Pleasures…
Instant Solutions to problems…
Instant end to difficulties…
And sadly… even an inclination for Instant Christianity!
… we are called forth to make choices that enhance our commitment to the Kingdom.

The Gospel of the Day is a call to re-look at some of the motives and intentions in our following of Christ…
… and to make the right choices.

The Gospel of the Day begins with the verse:
Mt 8:18 – “When He saw the crowd press around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other shore”

The preceding verses in Chapter 8 of the Gospel of St Matthew present Jesus performing many miracles and healings…
… and a “Crowd” being attracted to the Lord.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers….
But the Lord, wished to sift this Crowd.

He says, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head” (Mt 8: 20)

Jesus does away with any promise of security and comfort

He discourages people from following Him for having a better material life!

It was not that He didn’t want many people…
… but He wished to purify their motives & make them authentic in their following Him!

He sifts and sieves and strains the “Crowd”…to get together the “Disciples”.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers…

But when there is an exhortation in being committed to that miraculous event…
… the crowd is filtered…and only the Disciples remain back!

The Lord is asking us today…
Are we just a part of the CROWD…?
… or are we ready to be filtered, and be a DISCIPLE?

Christianity sometimes gets reduced to…
… Going to Church once in a while especially on a Sunday or a Feast day
… Saying a few prayers time to time
… Reading a few verses from the Bible.. etc…

And then expecting Instant blessings and favours!

But is this all that Christ intended with Christianity?

We are exhorted to move from the tendency reduce Christianity as just a part time affair, or in terms of some contract or promises, or in order to achieve some wants and desires…
… and instead to be Christian as a full timer!

It is easy to be part of a Crowd….

We can enjoy the occasional miracles
We can relish hearing the Word of God

But it is not easy to be a Disciple…

The experience of external miracles would be few
The Word of God would not just be heard, but also be expected to be lived and practised in life!
There would be no guarantee of any security in life
Many of the personal desires would have to be left behind…

To be a Disciple is hard…
… undoubtedly painful…and certainly, demanding

But to be a Disciple is also joyful…
… undoubtedly satisfying…and certainly, exciting!!

The Crowd is Casual…
… the Disciple is Dedicated!

The Crowd is Dichotomous…
… the Disciple is Committed!

What are we going to choose?
To be part of the “Crowd”- as an easy-going Christian?
… or to be a “Disciple” – as an ever-faithful and committed Christian?

Your answer please?…
… Instantly!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE MYSTAGOGY OF THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM

In the Latin Church this triple infusion is accompanied by the minister’s words: “N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
In the Eastern liturgies the catechumen turns toward the East and the priest says: “The servant of God, N., is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
At the invocation of each person of the Most Holy Trinity, the priest immerses the candidate in the water and raises him up again.
The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptize…

… who has become a Christian, that is, one “anointed” by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king (CCC #1240-1241)