Scripture:
Amos 2:6-10, 13-16
Matthew 8:18-22
Reflection:
The Fourth of July is coming up. Think for a moment about The Declaration of Independence. What if our Nation’s Founders said, "I think independence is a great idea. I’m all for it…as long as it doesn’t take too much time…as long as I don’t lose any money…as long as I don’t get hurt…as long as it doesn’t involve my weekends."
In reality, they didn’t place any conditions or reservations on what they were about to do. They were totally committed. They proclaimed, "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They signed their names boldly in ink, not pencil. There were no wimps among them.
There is amazing power in making a commitment. Our whole being gets involved. The doors of our imagination and creativity open up. Our inner resources are tapped. We discover a quality of energy unknown to the wishy-washy. Commitment rallies our courage, stiffens our backbone and toughens us for all challenges. Commitment opens our senses and our intuition, alerting us to new opportunities of service. Commitment defines us.
Jesus knew this. Such is the kind of commitment Jesus is looking for in today’s gospel. He is not against burying our deceased parents. He just wants to make sure nothing, absolutely nothing gets in the way of our commitment to him. We are to love him with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds. And we can be assured by Calvary that nothing will ever get in the way of his love, his commitment to us.
Fr. Alan Phillip, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California. http://www.alanphillipcp.com/