Bishop Macholz: thinking about discipleship

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62

Jesus is unwavering in his commitment to his mission in Jerusalem and will not be swayed by pettiness. In a series of striking cases in point, he calls his disciples to a similar single-mindedness.

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

For Paul, the freedom Christ gives is not permission to do whatever we want. It is the invitation to be what we could not be otherwise. The power and guidance of Christ's Holy Spirit produce a different kind of life, one marked by the fruit of this Holy Spirit.

You can't miss the call to follow and it's radical implications either in the first lesson or the Gospel to say nothing of Paul's letter to the Galatians, it is crystal clear. The call to discipleship is a call to follow in a new way, to let go of the past and to trust in God's guidance and direction. Thereby hangs the tale.

 

We are not good at letting go and trusting in others when push comes to shove. The song that always comes to mind is Sinatra's "My Way".  Perhaps we should write another one and entitle it "God's Way". What would that look like from your perspective?

 

If I did things God's way, how might that change my life? Would I be a better person? Would stewardship of all of life really begin to take hold? How would it affect my finances, my family life and my outlook on life? Would it influence me to deal with others from a much different perspective? Would I drive differently? Eat differently? Live differently?

 

There are a lot of questions to be answered and just as many more to be asked. Yet, they are questions we need to ask not only this day but each day for each day we are called to follow and discern the implications of what it all means.

 

When Jesus calls you to follow, what is your response? It's not always easy, is it? In fact, some days and at some times, it's just downright impossible. But thanks be to God, God keeps following us, encouraging us, uplifting us.  Maybe it's time to follow God's lead.