Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Jesus is on the move today, as he often is. I am struck by the first passerby, not yet a disciple, calling to Jesus, “I will follow you where you go.” I hear in this unprompted declaration of discipleship an enthusiasm and a whole-hearted commitment.
Jesus’ response to this unprompted declaration of committed discipleship feels at first like a wet blanket thrown on his enthusiasm: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." But I am reminded that Jesus also points us to birds and flowers to remind us not to worry, “Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds!” (Luke 12:24).
Jesus may have nowhere to rest his head, but he is deeply cared for by the One who created him. And so are we. Jesus invites us to trust in God’s care for us.
What are we to make of Jesus’ response to those who give seemingly good reasons to wait to follow him, faithful reasons - burying the dead, saying goodbye to loved ones? There is an urgency in Jesus’ response. Don’t look back. Don’t wait. Let the dead bury their dead.
It can be helpful for us to realize that Jesus' response is likely to someone whose family member is alive now. This person is essentially telling Jesus, “This time in my life, this season of life, isn’t the right time to focus on following you…I will wait until it’s easier to clear my plate.”
Jesus invites us daily to be on the road with him, discerning how the Holy Spirit is inviting us in this moment to move forward. He invites us to discipleship now. Today. And he reminds us that we can trust God to care for us along the way.
—Kelly Adamson