(Based on Gen 19:15-29 and Mt 8:23-27 – Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I?
I took the one less-travelled by,
And that has made all the difference!”
These well-acclaimed and much-celebrated lyrical words from the poem “The Road not taken” by Robert Frost…
… highlight the importance of making critical choices in life.
It is our choices that show what we are, far more than our abilities.
It is our choices that determines our success in life, far more than our talents.
Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ, is a deliberate choice we make in our lives!
This is a choice of “walking the road less-travelled!”
The Gospel of the Day, begins with the verse:
Mt 8:23 – ” Jesus got into a boat, and the disciples FOLLOWED HIM!”
In the preceding verses, Jesus had filtered the massive crowd that was thronging on Him…
… by placing some demands in being His True Disciple.
And in today’s reading, the Disciples FOLLOW HIM, into the boat!
They make a choice of “walking the road less-travelled!”
Now, this sequence is interesting….
- A large crowd follows Jesus (Mt 8:18)
- Jesus places some demands in being a true disciple (Mt 8:19-22)
- A few disciples remain – making a deliberate choice – and follow Jesus in the boat (Mt 8:23)
- Though they follow Jesus… the disciples now encounter a massive storm! (Mt 8: 24)
Is this not, perhaps our experience as well?
- We seek to follow the Lord, initially, along with others – as in a crowd
- Jesus then places before us the demands of following Him and how we need to be not merely a “devotee” but also become a “disciple”
- We choose to remain with Him – making a deliberate choice – and follow Jesus in the boat, through the waters of this world
- Though we follow Jesus… as disciples, we now encounter massive storms!
Is there a storm in our life today?
Are there winds of doubt, anxiety, fear, hopeless lashing against the boat of our life?
Though, we have made a deliberate choice to follow Jesus…
… yet, it seems, the Lord is busy sleeping!
The storms hit the boat…
The blood pressure levels go up…
The heart starts sinking in fear…!
In anxiety and trembling we cry:
“Lord, Save us!
… we are perishing!!”
“Lord, Save us!
… My marriage is falling apart and my family life is on the verge of a split!”
“Lord, Save us!
… My friends have deserted me and I feel so lonely!”
“Lord, Save us!
… I have no financial help and emotional support!”
“Lord, Save us!
… My community life is in a crisis and I feel my vocation is at the crossroads!”
We all have asked such similar queries, in varied ways, and a number of times!
We never question the Lord’s compassion, when things are going on well in life…
But we are quick to interrogate the Lord’s presence, when situations hit rock bottom!
But we need to understand and be convinced…
“God’s Power & Compassion is not measured by our circumstances, nor His kindness limited to our understanding!”
God loves us… when the tempest is raging and even when the sun is shining bright!
God cares for us… when life is happy and full of bliss and even when life has only tears and pains!
Do I trust in this?
The Lord was well aware of the dangers, when He asked them to get into the boat…
The Lord is not ignorant…!
The book of Prophet Jeremiah 29:11,14 says: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare, not for woe!
Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you’ll find me, with You!”
As a Disciple of Jesus…
… storms are bound to hit us
… lashes of winds are sure to whack us
… tempests and gales are inevitable in life!
None of them are accidents; but are fully known, in the Will of the Father!
He is the Loving Father, the Saving Lord, the Guiding Spirit!
These hardships become occasions…
… when our faith levels are tested
… when our heart needs to grow in greater trust
… when our following of Christ undergoes the assessment of strength
… when we need to check whether any sins are blocking my zeal for the Lord
Let u not be bound to our little faith…
The Lord of the “sea and the waves and the winds” is by our side…
In His time, He will calm these perils…
We need to wait in patience
… in cheerful submission
… and in humble hope
… to the Providential Care of the Lord, which always saves us!
And when we look back, to those moments of dangers, we realize…
… that our faith has grown stronger, by the storms we passed through!
As we enter into the new month of July, our Blessed Lord says: “Fear not, thru the storms of life…”
Let’s keep believing!
Let’s grow stronger!
Let’s be His faithful disciples!
Two roads diverge at every moment in our life
A road that is easy…
… and the road that is hard
Which one shall we travel by?
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fifth Commandment – Respect for human life
The Old Testament always considered blood a sacred sign of life.
This teaching remains necessary for all time. (CCC # 2260)
Reflection Capsules 