Daily Word - Don't Look Back - Luke 9:57-62

Scripture:
Luke 9:57-62 (English Standard Version)
The Cost of Following Jesus
57As they were going(A) along the road,(B) someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60And Jesus[a] said to him, "Leave(C) the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and(D) proclaim the kingdom of God." 61Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord,(E) but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62Jesus said to him, (F) "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Footnotes:
Luke 9:60 Greek he
Cross references:
Luke 9:57 : Luke 9:51
Luke 9:57 : For Luke 9:57-60, Matt 8:19-22
Luke 9:60 : John 5:25
Luke 9:60 : Luke 9:2
Luke 9:61 : 1 Kgs 19:20
Luke 9:62 : Phil 3:13

Reflection:
Are you fit and ready to follow the Lord wherever he leads you? With the call the Lord gives the grace to respond and to follow to the end. Why does Jesus issue a challenge with the call? Jesus was utterly honest in telling people what it would cost to follow him. When a would-be disciple approached Jesus and said he was ready to follow, Jesus told him it would require sacrifice -- the sacrifice of certain creaturely comforts. Jesus appealed to this man's heart and told him to detach himself from whatever might hold him back. Spiritual detachment is a necessary step for following the Lord. It frees us to give ourselves without reserve to the Lord and his service. While many of us may not need to give up the comfort of our own home and bed to follow Jesus, we, nonetheless, must be willing to part with anything that might stand in the way of doing God's will. Another would-be disciple said he would follow as soon as he had buried his father. What he meant by this expression was that he felt the need to return to his home to take care of his father through old age until he died. The third had no obligation to return home, but simply wanted to go back and say good- bye. Jesus surprised these would-be disciples with the stark truth that nothing should hinder us from following the Lord. Was Jesus being harsh and rude to his would-be followers? Not really. We are free to decide whether we will take the path which Jesus offers. But if we choose to go, then the Lord wants us to count the cost and choose for it freely.
What does the story of a plowman have to do with the journey? A plowman who looked back while plowing caused his furrow to be crooked. He had to look straight ahead in order to keep the plow from going off course. Likewise, if we look back on what we have freely left behind to follow the Lord, our path will likely diverge and we'll miss what God has for us. The gospel does not record the response from these three would-be disciples. We are only left with the question which Jesus intends for us as well. Are you ready to take the path Jesus offers? His grace is sufficient and his love is strong. There is nothing greater we can do with our lives than to place them at the service of the Lord and Master of the universe. We cannot outgive God in generosity. Jesus promises that those who are willing to part with what is most dear to them for his sake "will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). Is there anything holding you back from pursuing the Lord and his will for you life?

Prayer For The Day:
"Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess you have given me. I surrender it all to you to be disposed of according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace — with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more." (Prayer of Ignatius Loyola, 1491-1556)

Daily Word - Loyalty - Luke 9:51-56

Scripture:
Luke 9:51-56 (English Standard Version)
A Samaritan Village Rejects Jesus
51When the days drew near for(A) him to be taken up,(B) he set his face(C) to go to Jerusalem. 52And(D) he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of(E) the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53But(F) the people did not receive him, because(G) his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell(H) fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"[a] 55But he turned and rebuked them.[b] 56And they went on to another village.
Footnotes:
Luke 9:54 Some manuscripts add as Elijah did
Luke 9:55 Some manuscripts add and he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people’s lives but to save them”
Cross references:
Luke 9:51 : Mark 16:19
Luke 9:51 : 2 Kgs 12:17; Isa 50:7; Jer 42:15
Luke 9:51 : Luke 13:22; 17:11; 18:31; 19:11, 28
Luke 9:52 : Luke 10:1
Luke 9:52 : Matt 10:5
Luke 9:53 : John 4:9; Luke 10:33
Luke 9:53 : John 4:20
Luke 9:54 : Rev 13:13

Reflection:
God's grace through faith in Christ sets us free from everything that would keep us from following him. When Jesus made preparation to enter a Samaritan village he was met with opposition, no doubt because the Samaritans perceived that he belonged to the other party they were in dispute with. The Jews and Samaritans had been divided for centuries. Jesus' disciples were indignant and wanted to see retribution. Jesus, in turn, rebukes them for their lack of love for a person of different dissent. Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem in order to die so that all nations might be reconciled with God and be made one in Christ. When the Lord calls us to follow him he gives us the grace to put aside everything that might keep us from doing his will. Loyalty to Jesus demands sacrifice, especially the sacrifice of one's own will for the will of God. A would-be disciple responded by saying, I must first go and bury my father, that is, go back home and take care of him until he died. Jesus surprised his disciples by telling that they must not look back on what they have freely given up, but instead keep their focus clearly on the goal they have set for their lives, union and happiness with God in his kingdom. A plowman who looked back caused his furrow to be crooked. Likewise, if we look back our path will likely diverge and we'll miss what God has for us. When the going is rough or the way ahead looks uncertain, we are tempted to look back to the "good old days" or to look for "greener turf". Are you resolved to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and to "stay the course" in following him to the end?

Prayer For The Day:
Heavenly Father, keep my mind fixed on the surpassing joys stored up for me in your kingdom. And let me be willing to put up with all the suffering, hardship, and pain that may come my way in serving you.