There are many good things in this life that the follower of Christ must put aside. There are many rights and privileges that one must defer.
Following Jesus Christ means putting him ahead of all others. In our Gospel, when disciples were called to be apostles and the first witnesses for Christ… once they said yes to his call… they did not look back. Being his disciples was going to take the whole life of the person. Nothing could stand in its way. His examples of those who wanted to bury their father or say goodbye to family seems extreme to us but we are to use it to examine ourselves and ask what have I put ahead of Christ? Family. Duties that are expected of us? Anger. Work.
For many we cannot protest about being asked to put away such extreme examples for we hold lesser things in front of our path to Jesus.
Many people today lack the discipline to say yes and focus on that yes and step forward. They get distracted. In our world of noise from social media and 24/7 global news it’s easy to focus on the wrong things.
Today Jesus says focus on me. Keep your eyes set on me and my way.
Prayer must become a foundation of our day. Worship must be what’s sets the focus for the week ahead.
Loving others must color all actions, not just the ones we choose.
Recently I recognized I would not be described as Christian by telemarketers or door to door sales men. Yes, I was rude at the intrusion to my day.
I was blind to my own failing. Now I ask callers and visitors to pray with me first. Pray that I not be angry and ask what they would like to prayer for. It sets the tone by reminding me who I am. I am a son of God and must live like one, every day and minute.
So at least one thing has been removed for me as I strive to follow Jesus. What can you remove from your life that is in the way?
Gospel
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding
on their journey, someone said to him,
“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.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
About St Jerome:
St. Jerome was a Biblical scholar in the fourth century. He studied and was baptized in Rome, then returned to his native Aquileia where he lived an ascetic life. Around 374, he headed for Palestine, but was delayed in Antioch, where he heard the lectures of Apollinarius and decided to live as a hermit in the Syrian desert. He learned Hebrew, returned to Antioch and was ordained.
He spent time in Constantinople and then returned to Rome, where he became secretary to Pope Damasus. After the Pope’s death, he visited Egypt, Palestine, and Antioch, before settling in Bethlehem. There he founded a new men’s monastery, and continued his scholar work. St. Jerome was involved in many theological controversies of the time including those regarding Arianism, the virginity of Mary, and the teachings of Origen.
Some of St. Jerome’s greatest scholarly achievements are his translations of most of the Bible into Latin, a bibliography of the ecclesiastical writers, and translations of the works of Eusebius, Origen, and Didymus. Also, he wrote many Biblical commentaries where he infused topography and linguistics into his discussions. St. Jerome is one of the four original doctors of the Western Church.
Written by Sarah Ciotti
Reviewed by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB, STD
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