Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
(After reading this homily, tell us why YOU "come after Jesus." Post your reflection at the end by clicking on the comment link).
Here is an interesting story! Gary brooks is a fifty year old construction worker from Greely, Colorado. He was arrested this week in a remote part of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. His offence? He had on himself a 40-inch sword, a pistol and night-vision goggles in northwestern Pakistan. He told investigators Tuesday that he was on a personal search for Osama bin Laden and that when he had found him he wanted to kill him. Part of me was amused at the story; part of me was impressed by his conviction. Here was a man utterly consumed by a personal mission. That someone would give up his job, travel a distance, go to hostile territory at great risk… this is impressive even if foolish.
The words of Jesus in today’s gospel reading require a certain that kind of commitment. There are many ideas that I could focus on today. I could preach about the words, “Take up your cross and follow me;” or I could suggest why “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Or perhaps I could focus on the question, “Who do you say that I am?” I almost did that till I sat myself down to write this homily. I was more taken aback by the words, “If anyone wishes to COME AFTER ME....” Why would a person go after someone? Can you picture that for a moment; a person leading and another person walking after that person?
But, then, I posed the question to myself. WHY DO I WISH TO COME AFTER JESUS? Yes, why do I come/go after Jesus? What is my motivation in calling myself a Christian? What is it about Christ that makes my tie up my identity with his? If I have to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus, why do I come after Jesus? So I spent time praying about that.
I decided then that I would share my answers with you. Let me say two things right at the periphery. As I do this, I think that I am also answering Jesus’ question to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Secondly, I am also hoping that I will provoke you to ask yourself the same question- Why do I come/go after Jesus? So here are three reasons I come after Jesus.
a) On a very human level, I am enamored by the person Jesus. Not that I have even met this man. And by the way, the blue eyed, handsome, youthful Renaissance images of Jesus do nothing for me. I am talking about his personality. This man had character. His integrity was impeccable. His yes meant a yes and his no meant a no. He was honest, sincere, compassionate, peace loving, and bold enough to break social boundaries and barriers. He did not stereotype people, judge them or condemn them. He was sensitive to the feeling of the ill, those who were grieving, and the repentant sinners. He spoke the truth even if it was difficult and stood by the truth even at the cost of his life. He was the kind of guy, who no matter what, had your back. Yes, I have never met this man but I like him; no I am mesmerized by him; no I am passionate about him; no I wish to come after him. So if there is one man I wish to imitate, it is Jesus.
b) I am gripped by Jesus’ teachings. We know that the gospels contain the life, ministry and teachings of Jesus. For me, though, I am not even sure I need the entire gospel to be convinced about Jesus. Merely three chapters from the entire gospels contain everything I need to know to be able to live an upright, godly, honest and contended life. The Sermon on the Mount contains the life ethic for a follower of Jesus. No man has even taught me that the poor are blessed or that peacemakers will be called the children of God. No man has even taught me to mourn with those who mourn or that with a clean heart I can see God. No man teaches me to pray for my enemies, to do good to those to harm me, or to love those who persecute me. No man teaches me to return evil with good, to return violence with love, and to return inhumanness with godliness. No man teaches me to give beyond measure, to give till it hurts. No man teaches me to care for others like I care for myself. No man teaches me to refrain from judgment, to keep my mind pure, and to live life in the narrow lane. No man teaches me the meaning of an anxiety-free life and shows me how to get there. No man teaches me to trust God like Jesus did. I find in his teachings the recipe for a purpose filled, meaningful, contended and peaceful life. I find in his teaching liberation and peace. The more I read the Sermon on the Mount, the more I realize that I have dedicated my life to the cause. I have no choice but to come after Jesus.
c) And finally, I truly believe the Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus, for me is more than just life’s recipe book. I have made a choice to come after Jesus because I have reached the inner conviction that Jesus is the Son of God – that he is my God and my salvation. The fact the Son of God became like so that Ican become one with God is my idea of salvation. I believe that Jesus died and that God raised him from the dead to that when I die, I will rise with Jesus. For now, though, I believe that if I stay very close to Jesus, to his words, his life and reach communion with him as often as I can that one day I will be in communion with him for eternity. And while I live my life here on earth, there is nothing more I desire than that. It is not heaven I desire or hell that I am afraid of. I have no control over my death or what awaits for me after death. All I desire in this life is that I know and love him as my God. At that end of my life, I want to be able to say that I loved him with all my heart and that I was faithful to him. All I want to be able to say is that I was a disciple.
From this altar, Jesus gives a clamouring call - to make a confession like Peter. Today, let us make our own confession. Let us tell Jesus why is it that we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. May our confession let us to salvation. Amen.
(Please tell us why YOU "come after Jesus." Post your reflection now by clicking on the comment link).
- Fr. Satish Joseph