The story is told about a man who asked a stranger what time it was.
The stranger put down his two heavy suitcases, looked at his watch and said,
“It is now 5:09 p.m., the temperature outside is 73 degrees, and it is going to
rain tonight.” Surprised, the man said, “Wow, your watch tells you all that?
I’m impressed. I’d like to buy it. Here is 2000 pesos?” The stranger gently
refused the offer. “I’m sorry but I have no intention to sell it for 2000
pesos.” But the man insisted and offered 5,000 pesos. Finally, the stranger
agreed. So happy with his new watch, the man wore it on his wrist and quickly
turned to leave. The stranger had to stop him though and handed him the two heavy
suitcases saying, “Hey, don’t forget the batteries.”
(The story is told by Jerry M. Orbos)
Today’s gospel provides a good reminder of the
cost of discipleship. Like the man in the story who became too focused on the
wrist watch and forgot the heavy batteries that came along with it, we can also
become too engrossed with the splendor of Christianity and forget the high
demands of true discipleship.
What is the real cost of discipleship? What
comes along in seriously following the Lord? In the gospel, Jesus uses strong
words in order to stir up our imagination, to disturb us and to make us
calculate the cost of committing ourselves to him.
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have
nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Jesus is straightforward
in telling this to would-be followers: discipleship has no economic and social
security. The disciple should not expect a comfortable life; he must be ready
to undergo a lot of renunciation like that of his Master; he must be ready to
take up the cross and accept humiliations; he must not expect to be rewarded
with good financial and social status.
“Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, go
and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Certainly, Jesus does not mean to say that
his follower has to abandon his responsibilities to his family. Burying one’s kin is a pious, religious duty.
However, the Lord wishes to stress that following him requires radical
reordering of priorities. When the invitation to follow comes, nothing is more
important than setting one’s heart to the kingdom of God. The disciple,
therefore, must put Jesus on top of his priorities. He cannot allow anyone or
any circumstance to stand in the way of fulfilling what the Lord asks of him.
“No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to
what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” Discipleship requires
undivided attention and full dedication for the kingdom. The disciple must make
a steadfast commitment to his mission in the Church. Once he declares his
intention to follow Jesus, he must set his heart to this new way of living and
acting, ready to face whatever challenges that may come on the way.
Knowing the cost of discipleship, who among us
would have the courage to follow the Lord? Ideally, all baptized Christians,
not only priests and religious, must try to live the radical discipleship
demanded by Jesus.
Are we brave enough to take the challenge? Are
we willing to sacrifice our own personal convenience and interest in order to
serve the Lord in the poor, the sick, the lonely and the brokenhearted? When
there is conflict of interests, are we resolved to put God first in our lives
and to place others, including the needs of our families, subordinate to the
kingdom of God? Are we truly committed to keep the faith and live the values of
the kingdom in the midst of trials and difficulties?
If discipleship is costly, is it worth it? The
experience of many people would tell us that it is worth it.
I happened to know a number of Filipino married
couples who became members of the Couples for Christ movement. Before they were
able to join this Christian community, their friends discouraged them from
doing so because, as their friends said, life would be boring and they would
lose many of their free weekends. Indeed, when my Filipino friends got into
this group, often they spent their weekends at meetings, seminars, and works of
family evangelization. But life was never boring. They told me that they have
so much fun and their life now has more meaning than before.
Is the cost of discipleship worth it? The Word
of God also assures us that it really is worth it: “No eye has seen,
nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those
who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).
