Bible
Study: Job 9, 1 to 12 and 14 to 16 and Luke
9, 57 to 62.
In our
Gospel passage this morning, we are presented with three different cases of
vocation.
First, a
man came to Jesus himself to declare his intention to follow him. “I will
follow you wherever you go.” This is the classic case of a person who is
calling God. Having looked at life, he reached the conclusion that by following
God, he will have the best of all that life has to offer. Jesus knowing his
heart knew that this man had a materialistic conception of ministry so his
response was “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of
man has nowhere to lay his head.” In other words, Jesus was saying to him, “If
you want to follow me, you must take the vow of poverty! And live it out. The
work of God is not a comfortable job or some sort of career!”
Then comes
the second case. It was Jesus himself who said to this man: “Follow me.” This
second case is clearly an example of what happens when it is God himself that
is calling a person to ministry. Oftentimes, it happens like a shock and one’s
immediate response is to give a thousand and one excuses why one considers
himself unworthy to say yes. Virtually all the biblical characters who were
called gave excuses. Gideon said he was too small, Moses said he stammered,
Jeremiah said he was only a youth, Isaiah said he had unclean lips and so on and so on. This man in today’s
Gospel passage begged for permission to go and bury his father first, but Jesus
said: “Leave the dead to bury their own dead.” When it is really God that is
calling a person, there is nothing that can stop the mission, not even death. Like
Jonah, they may try to run away from God, but God has a way of making them
return. To the world, such persons may appear most unqualified for the ministry
but God’s choice is God’s choice. Paul was a murderer but he was still God’s
choice.
The third case is a mixture of the above two. Here is a person who
really wants to follow. He is the one calling God but unlike the first case,
God accepts his call. There are some persons who were not God’s choice from the
beginning but because they happen to get close enough, God decides to accept them
as well. The characteristic of such persons is that they always have two minds!
It is like they want to eat their cake and have it at the same time. God is not
rejecting them but because they are the ones calling God, they feel they should
also taste what the world has to offer. “I will follow you Lord; but let me
first say farewell to those at home.” Jesus did not write him off as he did to
the first person, he simply tells him to CHOOSE ONE. “No one who puts his hand
to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The funny thing is that regardless of which category, these three
persons still make it into the priesthood and religious life or become pastors
so to say. The first group consider the ministry as an opportunity to enrich
themselves and they live a bourgeoisie life. They are not only rich, they
openly display their wealth as signs of God’s power and superiority. Their means
of evangelization is wealth.
The second group which are fewest in number are very genuine. They actually
give it all to the ministry. These persons may have had a past but one can see
how changed they are and how sincere they spread the kingdom of God.
The third group are more in number, they are neither hot nor cold, their
loyalty is divided between God’s work and their family members; they could even
become active in politics and other social engagements that are not entirely in
line with ministry. They really want to please God and give him their all but
they also want to please the people. Amongst this third group contains a growing
number of priests and sisters who resign from ministry eventually.
So my
dear, it is important to find out who is calling who? A sincere answer to this
question can solve a lot of problems.
Let us
pray:
Lord
Jesus, give me a sincere heart and a deeper love of you. Amen. We also pray for
a successful election in Edo State today that God will keep us all safe and
alive. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.
Fr. Abu
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