It Takes a Special Heart - Reflection 23rd Sunday OT-C

Readings

Wiki Commons

Great crowds always travel with Jesus until it gets hard. Then many disappear.

Jesus knows that it is hard. It is the reason, Jesus says to pick up and carry your own cross.

Realize what that means. Look at what it involves

Because if you love something more, then we will not be able to love Jesus with all that we are. If we cannot love Jesus with everything we have, it is hard to follow Jesus.

Even family must take second place to the absolute dedication required to follow Jesus. That is a hard thing. That is why the Church requires unmarried and celibate priests. It is a decision of wisdom guided by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus himself said this was a cross his disciples should carry.

And Jesus said to follow him you must hate your father, your mother, and your brother and sisters.

You must hate the earthly shelters that weigh down the mind.  In the ancient world, the family made a person. It was the core of success, wealth, and station in life.

To be a disciple, one had to abandon that family. Jesus demands it.

Jesus required that the vocation of discipleship be discerned. It is the same for every vocation of faith no matter if it is religious life, single life, or married life. The person must discern if it is the correct choice.

The builder must discern if he has enough to complete the build. The leader must decide if he has enough the complete the battle.

To be Jesus’ disciple takes a special heart.

A six year old boy ran in his first cross country race. He was told to just try to stay with everyone. Don’t try to outrun everyone; just finish the race.

As the race began, he was not in the first 1/3 of the racers. He was not in the first 2/3 of the pack. He was closer to the end.. As he tried to stay close to the leading pack even he was pulling away from slower runners.

Looking back over his shoulders he sees the slower boys falling behind. And, he stops. He waves them forward with big gestures of his arms and encourages them forward, and waits for them to catchup.

After the race, he was asked him he did that.

His answer was genuine love. I didn’t want them to give up. I wanted them to finish the race. It is a team effort.

Even though he doesn’t quite get the point of the race; everyone should be proud of that child. He was worried about those he was leaving behind even though he didn’t know them. He doesn’t know what the world expects of him. He only knows the love that is in his heart.

 “This earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.”

If we are more worried about winning than helping and encouraging others to finish the race, then are like the crowd that leaves Jesus behind.

As disciples we are to run with others to the final destination. That's our vocation.

That is what priests give their lives to do. That is what religious people take solemn vows to do. That is what a married couple stands before the community of witnesses at the altar of God and vows to do.  

Pray for vocations; because, tt takes a special heart not to leave Jesus because it gets hard. Pray that we can be a community of disciples that culture and grow these special hearts in our community and our children.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another. Amen.