“Following the Lord more sincerely and more passionately!”
(Based on Neh 2:1-8 and Lk 9:57-62 – Wednesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1 – Feast of St Therese of Child Jesus, Patroness of Missions)
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:
Comforts
Convenience
Distractions
- 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, the man chose this “comfortable style of following the Lord!”
But the Lord prohibits from seeking Him for the sake of comforts alone!
- 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”
- 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!
Let us always….
… Look to Jesus!
… Listen to Jesus!
… Learn of Jesus!
The Saint of the Day – St Therese of Child Jesus – invites us to be strong in our resolution for the Lord…
… and to be “child-like” – with immense trust in the Power and Providence of the Lord.
Her child-likeness had God as the Centre of her world…
God meant everything for this Little Saint.
Is God the centre of my world…?
The Little lover of God invites us…
… to adorn all our words with love
… to embrace all our actions with love
… to beautify all our thoughts with love…
It could be…
… speaking with friends
… interacting with fellow workers
… discussing some business matters
… enjoying with family members..
It could be…
… doing household works
… handling massive finances
… studying various subjects
… performing some spiritual activities
It could be…
… thinking some philosophical views
… reflecting about some people
… considering about some situations
… imagining some circumstances
… dreaming some visions
Whatever… whatever!
Whatever be our words..or actions…or thoughts….let them be embellished in LOVE!
Love demands fidelity in the countless mundane ‘little’ things of daily life
The Little Flower dares to throw “petals” at the Loving Lord…
These petals are even considered “worthless petals” by the world – a little sacrifice, a gentle smile, a kind word, an appreciative action!
Sometimes, these “worthless petals” are nothing more than a faithful effort.
But this fact of “having tried”, a good will “to do good”…. all these petals please the Lord!
Let us join the Little Saint to tread the Little Way.
As we enter into the new month of October – the month of the Holy Rosary – as a child, let us hold the hands of Mamma Mary…
… and be inspired by St Therese – the Li’l Big Saint – to love deeper the Big Big God of Love!
Let us “live Love to give Love!”
Let us “live Jesus to give Jesus!”
Happy Feast of the Beautiful Little Flower!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
— Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Rome, Italy
Email: reflectioncapsules@gmail.com
📖 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
Anger is a desire for revenge.
“To desire vengeance in order to do evil to someone who should be punished is illicit,” but it is praiseworthy to impose restitution “to correct vices and maintain justice. (CCC # 2302)
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