By Kulandai Albert csc –
Readings: Job 9: 1-12, 14-16; Lk 9:57-62
Today, the liturgy of the word is about the demands of discipleship. Every work or job has its own demands and success. So, success in anything is followed by its own demands. It is the same in our Christian life. If we want to follow Christ, then we need to fulfil his demands.
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives those demands and the criteria to be a follower. Firstly, following Jesus is not a show-off hence know the demands before venturing into it. Most times, we boast among ourselves but in practice, we may not follow Christian values. Jesus invites us to follow Christian values in our lives. Secondly, there is an expectation of higher loyalty to proclaim the Kingdom of God than filial duty to parents.
Thirdly, an uninterrupted attention is demanded to follow Jesus all through our lives. Added to that, the first reading gives an account of Job’s reply which accepts God’s greatest power and might which nobody can question. We need to accept God’s will in our life. These are explicit ways to follow Jesus. Thus, by observing these demands, we can live a successful Christian life. Through these, our life itself becomes an example for others to live a good life.