Posted by The WORD in other words (2022) by Fr Edwin Fernandez SVD – Divine Word College of Loaog, Ilocus Norte
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
My last mission assignment in Chile was the formation of our seminarians from 2004 until 2009. I remember one particular year when I welcomed to the seminary our newcomers (the postulants) with their families. Part of the event was to gather in the chapel for a special moment of prayer and sharing.
When I asked the parents to share their sentiments regarding their sons’ decision to enter the seminary, one mother gave us a real shock when she angrily told her son that if something bad would soon befall her, be it a serious illness or death, it would all be his fault due to the decision he had made. After more than a year in the seminary, the said postulant eventually decided to leave us and heed his mother’s demands.
Jesus lays down clearly the conditions for becoming His disciples. He demands from us that we love Him above anyone else and above anything in this world. In another Gospel text, He firmly teaches that we cannot serve two masters. We cannot serve both God and wealth, for we will love one and despise the other.
Is it not true, however, that many people are trying to serve and love both God and their money, God and their selfish ambitions? Some use God in order to attain material prosperity. Some preach so well that they can convince people to turn over to them a significant portion of their wealth.
In practice, there are lukewarm disciples who might love Jesus but not wholeheartedly. These are still attached to themselves and their prized possessions. They love Jesus but so little for fear of having to lose themselves and the things they most value. These end up building their own kingdoms and not the Kingdom of God, which Jesus zealously proclaimed in word and deed, even at the expense of His own life.
The lukewarm love of disciples toward Jesus makes it so difficult for them, if not impossible, to carry their own crosses and follow Him up to Calvary. We know for certain that those who are unwilling to suffer and die with and for Jesus cannot hope to share in His everlasting glory in heaven.
Is there a person, relationship, or anything in this world that seriously hinders my total giving of self in love to Jesus? “Jesus, give me the grace to love and follow You faithfully with an undivided heart. Amen.”
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