Cycle C - Year I:

30 June 2013 - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time: (Liturgical color: Green)

Luke 9:51-62

The Lord invites:"Follow me."

In contemporary world, people take pride in being avid fans or followers of the rich and famous, like showbiz personalities, politicians, the powerful, and sometimes even comic heroes and heroins. They are the inspirations or idols to lesser mortals, and are considered by their admirers as the epitome of success and greatness.

Looking up to such personalities (or characters) as role model or "dream persons" is understandable, I believe, because prestige, power and wealth is usually the standard of greatness or accomplishments in our present world.  Yet all these will perish some day, when their time on earth is up.

But to those who believe that there is more to life than the here and now, our Lord Jesus invites us to a different and lasting greatness based on selfless love and life of service.

In the gospel this Sunday Jesus invites all, "Follow me." But also he is totally honest in telling those who would heed his invitation what it would cost to follow him. Because true followers of Christ entail a lot of sacrifice; it requires humility and perseverance.

Saint Luke narrates to us about three persons who wanted to follow Jesus as he makes his final journey to Jerusalem to fulfill his mission, and how our Lord reacts to them.

The first would-be disciple told Jesus he was ready to follow him wherever he goes. Jesus told him it is challenging and requires great sacrifice. Because "foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."

To another person Jesus said, "Follow me." But then he replied that he wanted permission to go home first to bury his father.

And still another would-be disciple wanted to follow Jesus but asked that he goes home first also and say goodbye to his family.

In practical life, we are likewise invited to follow Jesus in our time. Some of us may have even felt, one way or another, that we are called by God to serve him and his people. Are we fit and ready to follow the Lord without conditions wherever he leads us?

But let us be clear that this "call or invitation" is always to help Jesus carry his cross of salvation, and not for us to reap personal honors and prestige.

A necessary step to follow the Lord is spiritual detachment. It will free us from worldly concerns and distractions and give ourselves without reserve to the Lord and his service. We must be willing and ready to part with anything that might stand in the way of doing God's will.

Is there anything holding us back from pursuing the Lord and his will in our life? Are we ready to take the path that Jesus offers?

Yes, it demands sacrifice to be the "fans" or followers of Jesus. But for Christians we trust that God's grace is sufficient and his love is strong to help us along the way. There is nothing better we can do with our lives than to place them at the service of the Lord. We cannot outgive God in generosity when we do His will.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Deo Optimo Maximo!