A priest was invited by a couple to have a dinner with them together with their three children. While they were having a dinner, the eldest child announced that he wanted to be a priest. All of them were happy. Then the priest asked the boy why he wanted to be a priest. He replied: “Because every time a priest visits a house, the food is always good and delicious.”
There were occasions in the past especially after having attended a touching seminar like Samaria Cursillo, Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), retreats and recollections or a very touching event that happened in our lives, we declare then: “I will follow you, Lord.” But after several months we say: “Wait a minute, Lord, Why me? I’m very busy, Lord.” But, upon hearing this gospel, can we renew now the commitment that we have made before? Or have we initially followed the Lord and then abandoned Him for our personal ambitions and pleasures that this world is offering?
In our gospel today, the story that I told you has something similar with each other. Before these three persons said they will follow Him, they had already witnessed and heard what Jesus had done – curing the sick, Jesus gave power to expel demons and cure the sick when He sent His disciples to a mission, raising the dead to life and many others. So they said: “This is different. I will follow Him because everybody applauds Him, everybody appreciates Him, everybody says that He is a good man, everybody says that he is handsome, so I will follow Him.”
But Jesus said – if you want to follow me, follow without reservation. I want your total commitment. I want sacrifice.
So to the man who excitedly volunteers to follow Him, Jesus is saying – think twice. Jesus and His disciples don’t have home to be called as their own. They move from place to place and if he will follow Him, he will be one of them – no security of home and other basic needs.
To the other who says he will follow after attending to the burial of his father, Jesus says: “Let the dead bury their dead.” It is because this burial connotes a postponement of service to Jesus until such time that his old father dies. Obligation to parents is laudable and must be appreciated but this comes secondary to proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
Each of us may rationalize that we are too young to be serious about Christ. We may say: “I must take care first of my career, my job, my family and my dreams. When I will become old and have nothing worthwhile to do, then I will follow and serve Christ.” It does happen that we spend the best years of our life serving our own ambitions and only later, when we are cranky and feeble that we want to be of service to the Lord. It does also happen that we never have the chance again to seize the opportunity of following Christ. We become incapacitated, lethargic and die early, the time that we want to serve Him. Instead of serving Him, we, in turn is served by Him.
The third man asks Jesus to say good-bye first to His family, Jesus told him not to look back.
Jesus speaks in hyperbolic tone to emphasize this hard way of discipleship which is a total dedication and commitment to the will of God. But we don’t interpret His words literally. We can still continue to attend to our filial and family obligations because if not, that’s a mortal sin. But following God’s calling is more important.
How to apply this gospel into our lives as Christians? I have read an article in Readers Digest dated July 1994 entitled What Really Is Worthwhile? Authored by Nardi Reeder Campion. I think this article can help us how to live as dedicated Christian disciples of Jesus Christ. He said and I quote: “Eight values can enhance one’s life: 1. Be wise in the use of time. It is not a question of how much time we do have but what shall we do with it. 2. Value work. Is the work vital, strengthening my own character or inspiring others or helping the world? 3. Seek happiness each day. If you are not happy today, you will never happy! Strive to be patient, unselfish, purposeful, strong, eager and work mightily each day with grateful hearts. 4. Cherish love. True love never nags, it trusts. 5. Keep ambition in check. 6. Embrace friendship. It takes a great soul to be a true friend. One must forgive much, forget much and forbear much. 7. Do not fear sorrow. Disappointment in life is inevitable. Pain is common to all. Sorrow is not given to us alone that we may mourn alone. It is given to us that having felt, suffered, wept, we may be able to understand love and bless. 8. Cherish faith. Faith in God will enable us to live our lives effectively, fearless and grandly.
There are many good and important reasons that may prevent us from focusing our attention to the will of God. At first glance, there is nothing with them. But if they distract us, weaken our will or make us compromise, then, they are temptations that should be rejected.
So my dear friends, where there is sacrifice, there is love. Where there is love, the Lord is always there. If we decide to follow the Lord, decide now and not tomorrow because tomorrow is still far away. If you mean ‘yes’, answer ‘yes and if you mean ‘no’ answer ‘no,’ there is no in-between.