Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a fierce storm burst upon the lake, with waves sweeping the boat. But Jesus was asleep.
The disciples woke him up and cried, “Lord save us! We are lost!” But Jesus answered, “Why are you so afraid, you of little faith?” Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and sea; and it became completely calm.
The disciples were astonished. They said, “What kind of man is he? Even the winds and the sea obey him.”

Reflections
“He stood up and rebuked the wind.”
Among other things, two things stand out in this gospel episode, namely: (1) Jesus is revealed as Lord and Savior; and, (2) the disciples forget that Jesus is with them. These are crucial in their life of faith. What happened to the disciples on the boat sets an opportunity for the revelation of who Jesus is. It also indicates, on the one hand, that forgetfulness of the presence of Jesus brings fear, anxiety, and a perception of the uncertain; while the recognition of Jesus presence, on the other hand, is re-assuring and brings calm confidence.
The presence of Jesus is one thing they/we cannot afford to miss because Jesus presence is revelatory. It reveals primarily who he is, but it also reveals who we are before him. That is why Jesus presence is confronting. His presence them/helps us see and confront those things in us that are uncharitable, unkind and selfish. Jesus presence is for- giving. And because it is so, His presence heals and comforts. Jesus' presence is awe-inspiring. It strengthens and propels the human spirit. All these are revelations of Jesus as bringer of the kingdom of God.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw the crowd pressing around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. A teacher of the law approached him; and said, “Master, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Another disciple said “Lord, let me go and bury my father first.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”

Reflections
“Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”
Jesus’ reply to the scribe, the teacher of the law, and to the disciple brings to the fore the nature of following him. Fol- lowing him is characterized by surrender, urgency and priority. To the scribe, Jesus’ response is a challenge to give up those things that provide him comfort and security. And to the disciple, Jesus’ response is a question of priority. It would seem Jesus is insensitive and unsympathetic to the situation of the disciple. But the point of Jesus’ response is that priority needs to be ac- corded to the demands of fol- lowing him and that it needs to be taken as urgent.
The demands of the reign of God and of Jesus’ call to follow him are definite and urgent. In the mind of Jesus they take precedence over other things we may consider important. They put us into situations where it is necessary and essential to give up something and take radical action. These giving up and ta- king action cannot be delayed to a future time because Jesus’ call is in the ‘now’.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. He sent ahead of him some messengers, who entered a Samaritan village to prepare a lodging for him. But the people would not receive him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem. Seeing this, James and John, his disciples, said, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to reduce them to ashes?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.
As they went on their way, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
To another, Jesus said, “Follow me!” But he answered, “Let me go back now, for, first, I want to bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them, and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Another said to him, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” And Jesus said to him, “Whoever has put his hand to the plow, and looks back, is not fit for the kingdom of God.”

Lectio Divina
READ: It is not enough to promise to follow Christ. One must know and be ready for the consequences. Christ does not promise comfort to his followers, just as he does not find comfort in his ministry. Elisha takes the challenge to succeed the prophetic minis­try of Elijah. We cannot follow our master if we have no freedom.
REFLECT: Think about your­self as a follower of Christ. What kind of follower are you? Are you trying to grasp Christ’s frame of mind? If you think everything is alright with you, there are no hassles when you practice your religion, think again. Something might be wrong. You must experience discomfort if you follow Christ.
PRAY: Lord, help me to follow you. Purify my motivation in trying to share in your minis­try. Help me to become a true follower of yours. Set me free from all that prevent me from giving myself totally to you.
ACT: Study the gospels to know the complete picture of a true disciple. Listen also to the spiritual leaders who have been recognized as following Christ closely. Seek those who pray deeply and who respect the teachings of the Church and her ordained ministers.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2019