Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
I have an invitation to speak this summer at the national conference of the National Catholic Education Association. The topic that was given to me was: New Evangelization and Adolescents. I am guessing that they want me to talk about making the ‘good news’ of Jesus relevant to high school adolescents. As I prepare for this talk the theme that is emerging is that there is difference between ‘religion for religion’s sake’ and ‘discipleship.’ There is a difference between ‘teaching religion’ to our youth and somehow ‘allowing Jesus to capture the imagination of our young people.’
It was as I was preparing this talk that I also heard the words in today’s gospel “If anyone wishes to COME AFTER ME....” If I want to capture the imagination of today’s adolescents should I not be able to explain why he has captured my imagination? So I posed myself this question: 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 me 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.
So here are three reasons I come after Jesus.
- I am not sure if you remember my homily from last week or not, but one of things that I mentioned was that my reverence for Jesus is reaching a new high. The way in which Jesus was creative in interpreting ‘religion,’ the way he became the face of God in the world, and the way he related to God and even the most despicable sinner has made him my HERO. (By the way, the blue eyed, handsome, youthful, Renaissance images of Jesus do nothing for me). I am talking about the person that he was. 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; I am mesmerized by him; I am passionate about him; I wish to come after him. So if there is one man I wish to imitate, it is Jesus.
- Second, 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 (Mt 5, 6 &7) 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.
- 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 me so that I can 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.
So, what about you? “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks in today’s gospel. Who is Jesus for you? May be you can reflect upon this in the coming week and share this with your kids. In any case, as we come to celebrate this Eucharist, let us do it not because this is our religion, but because we are his disciples, full of passion and love for him and for one another.
- Fr. Satish Joseph