Life is tough nowadays (Mahirap ang buhay): A kilo of rice is at P 45, sugar is at P 100, and white onion is at P 500. Challenges may be considered a part of life. Not only on basic commodities, and daily expenses that we experience difficulties. Even in the religious aspect of our life, we are to experience troubles (#StruggleIsReal).
In the gospel (Lk 14:25-33), Jesus turned and addressed the great crowds traveling with Him “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Hating, and denying one's family is hard, more so carrying a cross. This teaching of Jesus points to the fact that difficulties are prerequisites of Christian discipleship. In following Jesus, one must make sacrifices, and embrace some forms of denial, and dying, so that one may fully give himself up to God and the mission given to him. Total commitment to Jesus implies giving up some aspects of our life, be it comforts, identities, and practices. Through this, one puts himself (his time, body, life, talents, etc.) at God's disposal. On the contrary, a person who keeps holding on to the things he ought to give up, cannot follow Jesus wholly, with all His heart. One cannot call himself truly Christ's disciple while he keeps on sinning without a single resolve to give up such an offensive act. For genuine Christian discipleship to be realized in one's life, a person must be ready to break ties with those that are contrary to that way of life. For one to give primacy to God, he must put all other persons (even our beloved family) and things second (to God). That is difficult. That is Christian discipleship.
In his Letter to Philemon (Phmn 9-10, 12-17), St. Paul encouraged Philemon to receive back Onesimus as his brother. Philemon can only do so if he would give up his view of Onesimus as his slave. Being Christian necessitates one to make sacrifices (to give up something), even those which, or whom we deem to be all too important in our life. We sometimes have to rely on so many people and things in our lives. We depend on our parents and families for sustenance. We hang out with our friends for affirmation and encouragement. We hold on to our dreams and aspirations as motivations that keep us going. These persons and things are good in themselves, but they can sometimes prevent us from growing, from truly pursuing the lot God reserved for us, as they serve as our comfort zone, and sense of security. We fail to grow and pursue by ourselves the fate God gives to us.
It was once said, and very rightly, that a person cannot discover new oceans unless he dares to lose sight of the shore. Only the children who dare to leave the comforts that their parents provide can form their own families. Only a friend, who can live without the affirmation of others, can become man enough to stand by his decisions. Unless we deny ourselves from the comforts of life that provided security, albeit rendered us stunted, we will not make any progress in our spiritual life. Only those who can give up comforts in their lives (dreams, desire, caprices, vices, sins), can deny themselves, carry their crosses and follow Jesus. Like Philemon, we are encouraged to turn our backs on the things that hinder us from growing and maturing in our faith; in following Jesus.
In the face of the great difficulties of our journey of Christian discipleship, Jesus motivates us to pursue what we have begun. We are to make a lifelong commitment to carrying the cross God has entrusted to us, less, the onlookers should laugh at us and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ or 'This one wage a war with no enough troops.' But truth be told, there will be moments when the stone we gather will not be enough to put into completion the edifice we aspire to build; when the ten thousand troops we muster would not suffice against our enemies. In following Jesus, we experience weakness and discouraging results. We might even question God about the cross He asked us to carry; whether it is the cross proper to us (as it is too heavy for us to bear), or question even the difficult way He chose.
The book of Wisdom (Wis 9:13-18b) reminds us that we, human and limited as we are, cannot fully comprehend God's will for us: Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? In those disappointing and seemingly hopeless instances, we are not to hold on to our strength and resources. We may be asked even to give all the little things we save; the building materials we possess, and the ten thousand troops under our control. We are left to pray to God, that He may send the Holy Spirit to enflame our hearts anew: With the Holy Spirit sent upon us from on high, our paths here on earth are made straight, enabling us to continue our journey no matter how tough it may be. In the end, the God who bestows upon our life cross, will be the same God who will accompany us and make sure that whatever He had begun in us will be put to completion (Philippians 1:6). In every moment of our journey of Christian discipleship, the Lord is our refuge and strength (Ps 90:1).
The good news for us is, the toil and labor we bear on the journey will not be the end. Jesus did not remain on the cross after taking the road to Calvary. The story of Jesus, whom we dare to follow, ends in the glory of the resurrection. That ending can be ours too, should we persevere in following Him.
Christian discipleship is not a walk in the park. To be faithful to God (to His commandments and mission He entrusted to us) is not stress-free. He never promised an easy life for us, but only a worthwhile destiny (heaven). Will you give up everything, carry your cross and die with Him? If yes, be prepared too to rise in glory with Him.
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