IN RESPONSE TO MASTER’S CALL

Jesus said, “Anyone who starts to plough and then keeps looking back is of no use to the Kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:62)

When the Almighty God created man He said, “Subdue the world” giving man authority over entire creation. He called certain people, appointed them to do His special tasks, which are generally called ‘vocations’. In accordance to the message from the Almighty God, Prophet Elijah went to Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who would succeed him as a prophet. Elisha was ploughing with a team of oxen when Elijah took off his cloak and put it on him. Soon he said to Elijah, “Let me say goodbye to my parents.” He then killed his team of oxen, cooked the meat using the yoke as fuel for the fire. He served the meat to the people and joyfully began his journey following Elijah. Here we observe how he faithfully buried his past and willingly became a servant of God. He burnt the yoke so as never to think or turn back to his previous wealthy life. By destroying the old yoke Elisha freely accepts the new yoke His Creator gifted him for the light of glory. It signifies that from then on he would concentrate on God’s calling, sacrificing everything, without thinking about the gains and loss. What about you? What is your level of success to God’s invitation and vocations?

A young man, expressing his interest to follow Him became sad and withdrew his decision, when Lord Jesus said to him, “Give away all you have to the poor.” The New Testament testifies various ‘would-be-follower’ vocational stories.  When the time came for Jesus to be taken up to Heaven, He made up His mind to set out on to Jerusalem, where He was to be handed over to His enemies. As He continued His teachings about the Kingdom of God, a man shouted from the crowd, “Sir, I will follow you wherever you go.” (Luke 9:57) Lord Jesus replied to him, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lie down and rest.”  (Luke 9:58)

What did the Lord mean by this? The Lord was asking him, “Do you have a place in your heart for my Kingdom? Though the world and everything in it belongs to the King of kings, who could abide in a magnificent palace yet He rejected the world with all its perishable gifts. His sole purpose of coming to this earth was to conquer the power of the world. He said to us, “whoever wants to serve me must follow my way of life here. Then my servant will be with Me, where I am.” (John 12:26)

Accept and enthrone Him willingly rather than trumpeting your wavering, feeble decisions. To make us thoroughly understand, Lord Jesus continued extending His invitation by saying to another, “Follow Me.” Refusal followed in response to the Divine calling citing worldly concerns like burying the dead, bidding farewell to family, etc. Realising their attachment to the world and its obligations, Lord Jesus warns them, “Anyone who starts to plough and then keeps looking back is of no use to the Kingdom of God.” By this Jesus clearly tells us that you would be considered unworthy of His Kingdom unless priority and value is given to His invitation, by denying self. One must have faith and courage to leave everything in Jesus’ Name to protect the vocation faithfully till the end. St. Paul says, “You were called to be free. Since He has set you free, stand firm as free people. Do not allow yourself to become a slave again.” He exhorts to use your freedom not for your physical desires but to achieve salvation. The supreme goal of a follower of Christ is to satisfy his/her spiritual hunger.

Do you understand your call and vocation? Have you responded to it? If yes, serve the Lord willingly and He will accept you and your prayers will reach the skies. In his Gospel, Matthew narrates his response to the call to His vocation. Detaching himself completely, he zealously accepted it. Knowing the heart of the tax collector, Lord Jesus, said to him, “Follow Me.” These words pierced Matthew’s ears and heart, forsaking his profession and its benefits. At once he requested Lord Jesus to be the chief guest for a meal at his home. Preparing a great feast for the public as an occasion to share in his joy, he set out to follow his Master. The words ‘Follow Me’ transformed his life. He buried his past life, forgot himself and chose to walk with Him and reach wherever He reached. He continued practicing, observed minutely His deeds, actions and to step carefully only in His footprints. It evolved to being his only aim to grasp His teachings, never to find rest but continue His journey. He humbled himself, aware that he cannot reach his Master’s level, yet never to divert his attention to anyone or anything. His submissiveness taught him never to overtake the Lord but to expect the same fate. To run and follow the ‘one who never turns back’.  Yes! Indeed a true sacrificial and dedicated follower was he! He successfully narrated the Good News, inviting us to ‘Follow Jesus’ proving that only a positive and immediate response to God’s invitation can make a follower joyful and happy.

May the Lord bless you and take care of you. May He be kind and gracious to you. May the Lord look on you with favour and give you peace.

With love filled blessings,

Your Sister in Christ