“I will follow you wherever you go.” – Matthew 8:19

     We were making final arrangements for a travel destination we wanted to visit but the hotels with good reviews were all fully booked.

       So we took a risk and did a blind booking, which means we wouldn’t know exactly what hotel we’d get until we have paid for it. I was worried but I knew it would be a nice vacation no matter what. The satisfaction of going to our dream destination was far greater than some discomforts we might have to bear.

       To decide to follow Christ entails full commitment and total surrender — no chance to think twice and back out. It means  putting Him first above all things and everybody else. It requires us not just to be with Him but to live for Him and follow His way of life.

       People who do not believe in Jesus may ridicule us. We may need to sacrifice and suffer a lot. But that’s how Christ laid out the cost of following Him.

      It’s daunting, isn’t it? But there is nothing more gratifying than to serve Christ who leads us to bliss eternal. Jane Gonzales-Rauch (mgr516@gmail.com)

Pope Francis Says: “We cannot be part-time Christians! We should seek to live our faith at every moment of every day.”

Lord Jesus, I offer my life in total surrender for Your glory. Guide my footsteps that I may follow Yours. Amen.

Amos prophesies against the corrupt business practices of the wealthy and elite in Jewish society. Things have not changed that much in the last 2,000 years because the same practices are still being done today. Sin is unchanging — it always targets the weaknesses of human and exploits them. We must take a stand against corruption, particularly when it is blatant and unapologetic.

6 Thus says the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke my word; Because they sell the just man for silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals. 7 They trample the heads of the weak into the dust of the earth, and force the lowly out of the way. Son and father go to the same prostitute, profaning my holy name. 8 Upon garments taken in pledge they recline beside any altar; And the wine of those who have been fined they drink in the house of their god. 9 Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them, who were as tall as the cedars, and as strong as the oak trees. I destroyed their fruit above, and their roots beneath. 10 It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, and who led you through the desert for forty years, to occupy the land of the Amorites. 13 Beware I will crush you into the ground as a wagon crushes when laden with sheaves. 14 Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong man shall not retain his strength; The warrior shall not save his life, 15 nor the bowman stand his ground; the swift of foot shall not escape, nor the horseman save his life. 16 And the most stouthearted of warriors shall flee naked on that day, says the Lord.

Psalm 50:16-17, 18-19, 20-21, 22-23

R: Remember this, you who never think of God.

16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R) 18 “When you see a thief, you keep pace with him, and with adulterers you throw in your lot. 19 To your mouth you give free rein for evil, you harness your tongue to deceit.” (R) 20 “You sit speaking against your brother; against your mother’s son you spread rumors. 21 When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.” (R) 22 “Consider this, you who forget God, lest I rend you and there be no one to rescue you. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” (R)

Discipleship is all about the decision to follow Jesus. The destination and path are no longer elements of discussion. A disciple is committed to go wherever the Master leads. It is like giving Jesus a blank check for our future. We do not look back. We don’t question His wisdom. We do not allow the concerns of the world to distract us.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

18 When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. 19 A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” 21 Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

think: We must take a stand against corruption, particularly when it is blatant and unapologetic.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

A SERIOUS MATTER

We are down to the last few days of June. Our Gospel passage for today invites us to take a good look at the cost of following our Lord Jesus in our everyday lives.

       To put it simply, it’s no walk in the park. The two would-be disciples of Jesus in the Gospel reading had the noblest of aspirations, but that was not enough for Jesus. He was radically honest and blunt to lay down His own terms. Jesus is for no pushovers or patsies, or for those who dillydally.

       In a way, we too can say that our Lord was insisting against a wrong attitude when it comes to following Him, which is that of enjoying privileges or expecting entitlements on the basis of being His follower. There are followers of Christ who think that just because they have made sacrifices, like giving up careers or loved ones, expect God to compensate for that. And so they get this false sense of entitlement and expect special privileges or perks on the mere basis of their following Jesus, forgetting that it actually entails sacrifices, perseverance and steadfastness.

       If you will read carefully the circumstances of the Gospel incident, you might see some clues. It is stated that Jesus gave orders to the crowd around Him to cross to the other side of the lake. Perhaps those two who spoke to Jesus attempted to ingratiate themselves with Him, hoping that they can just journey alongside the Lord without the hardship of crossing the lake. Jesus burst their bubble and gave them a good reality check.

       To follow the Lord Jesus is a serious matter. We just cannot make excuses from it or expect rewards for it. With or without perks and fringe benefits, we follow Him all the same, more than ever. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: What do you expect out of personally following Jesus?

Humble me, O Lord, that I may see where I truly stand as I follow You. Amen.