The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw a crowd around him,
he gave orders to cross to the other shore.
A scribe approached and said to him,
“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Another of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But Jesus answered him, “Follow me,
and let the dead bury their dead.”
Reflection:
With “No doubt”, this passage is a “Call to Action” regarding our faith and our lives. The passage takes a deep dive and challenges us to examine our commitment to Christ and our faith. It asks us if we are truly ready to follow Jesus and his mission, even when it involves a significant sacrifice. Simply put, this is reminding us of the cost of discipleship. He contrasts a scribe’s eagerness to follow with a more profound understanding of what it truly means to be a disciple. Jesus also emphasizing that following Christ must sometimes take precedence over even the most fundamental human obligations.
Let me give you an example of what it’s like to prioritize and follow Christ:
Two weekends ago, I was part of a very special group of men (team members) that put on a retreat for the residents at Mary’s Village (Men’s facility). The event was an ecumenical retreat meaning it was men from all faiths. Prior to the retreat weekend, the team members met and spent 5 Saturdays preparing for this special weekend. All of these men were “ALL IN” and willing to give up their precious time for the sake of our other brothers, the residents at Mary’s Village. But during these preparation meetings something special happened because we are blessed by the “Grace of God”. All of us, every single one of us (and there were 25 of us) was graced with the companionship, friendship and the alliance from the love of God.
When the retreat weekend started, we were bonded as one unit. We were brought together in solidarity as disciples of the Lord. We were ready to go. The Holy Spirit lived amongst us, and we shared that comradery with the others that were present. These “Band of Brothers” said YES to the call, the “Call to Action”. They gave up their personal lives, their free time and shared the love they had to give.
In lieu of all this, this comradery, this brotherhood, this love was easily transferred to the men at Mary’s Village just by them witnessing our call to action. This new set of “band of brothers” became a larger group of loving men all in solidarity and harmony through the testimonies, prayers, song, tears and laughter that happened that weekend. The Men at the Village found out what love is all about and what it means to say I love you to another man.
In this parable, Jesus is asking, or should I say, reminding us of the things that we were put onto this earth for. It isn’t for our own sake but for the sake of others. These blessings, abilities and talents were not for our own utilization but to be shared with others and that includes strangers.
Action of the Day: You know what you have done and what should be done. Maybe someone has been asking for your help with a ministry, or attending a retreat, or simply visiting someone. You tell yourself that you are busy but be honest with yourself, is there something that you can put aside to do what is right? Are you willing to say YES to the “Call of Action”?
Audio Reflection:
