Click here to read the daily readings from the USCCB website.
“Follow me.”
This is the invitation that proceeded the most influential life-changes in the world. “Follow me.” Two words that flipped the world upside down. Two words that flipped the lives of 12 apostles and many, many other men and women upside down. They responded with a resounding “Yes” and changed the world.
However, some people said no. Some of us say no. And what happened? Jesus rebukes them. “Let the dead bury their dead. … No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
What are some of the things that prevent us from giving our resounding yes? So often it’s our earthly attachments. Our love for family and responsibility to the things of this world are good! They are! But only to the degree that they unite us to God. When the things of this world begin to become an idol, they no longer bring us to God but keep us from Him.
Job is just an amazing example of properly ordered attachments. He trusted in God so much that when everything was taken away from him, he rejoiced and trusted in God even more. It was certainly a bittersweet rejoicing, how could it not be? He certainly felt rejected by God, but he knew that was a lie. He knew God was with him. “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?” Job knows that God’s ways are beyond our ways.
What are the things that we’re overly attached to? What are the things that would wreck you if they were taken away? This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, God gave you those things because He loves you! But do you love them more than you love God?
It’s a big question to think about today, but an important one to consider.
-Amanda Benner, Director of Evangelization