Discipleship
The Mass Scripture Readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C deal with "discipleship". Specifically, 1 Kings 19:16-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5-1, 13-18 and Luke 9:51-62.
I listened to the reading of these passages and my Parish's Pastoral Vicar's homily on them at Mass this past Sunday, and I read meditations on the topic in the June issue of the monthly periodical "the WORD among us" and the book "In CONVERSATION with God, Volume Four". These printed meditations basically provided a more extensive insight into what my pastor summarized so well.
In a few sentences he had stated, being disciples of Christ we can not force others to accept/believe what we do; we can only invite them. Regarding our own behavior/faith journey--i.e., being "followers of Christ", he went on; there are three characteristics to consider (so well exemplified in Luke 9:57-62). 1. We are not to expect human recompense for following Jesus. 2. We can not place any conditions on our following Jesus. 3. There is no turning back if want to be followers of Jesus.
In light of the last point, the statement of Jesus in verse 62 regarding a person plowing would have resonated with the people to whom He was speaking. It was noted in the meditation "In CONVERSATION with God" that Jesus' audience would have known that any farmer who took his attention off his plow in the hard Palestinian soil would quickly find his furrows out of line.
Though the three points noted above are logical; knowing this does not make it easier for a person. One can only pray that with the Grace of God one will persevere.
I listened to the reading of these passages and my Parish's Pastoral Vicar's homily on them at Mass this past Sunday, and I read meditations on the topic in the June issue of the monthly periodical "the WORD among us" and the book "In CONVERSATION with God, Volume Four". These printed meditations basically provided a more extensive insight into what my pastor summarized so well.
In a few sentences he had stated, being disciples of Christ we can not force others to accept/believe what we do; we can only invite them. Regarding our own behavior/faith journey--i.e., being "followers of Christ", he went on; there are three characteristics to consider (so well exemplified in Luke 9:57-62). 1. We are not to expect human recompense for following Jesus. 2. We can not place any conditions on our following Jesus. 3. There is no turning back if want to be followers of Jesus.
In light of the last point, the statement of Jesus in verse 62 regarding a person plowing would have resonated with the people to whom He was speaking. It was noted in the meditation "In CONVERSATION with God" that Jesus' audience would have known that any farmer who took his attention off his plow in the hard Palestinian soil would quickly find his furrows out of line.
Though the three points noted above are logical; knowing this does not make it easier for a person. One can only pray that with the Grace of God one will persevere.
Labels: Living The Faith
posted by Paul Amrhein | 2:35 PM
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