Daily Reflections - October 14,2012

IS JESUS “BAD” ENOUGH FOR YOU?

 

From today’s Gospel, we notice that here was one basically good guy (“I have kept all these commandments ever since...”), and yet he blew it all — his chance to share in the everlasting life promised by Jesus.

But even then, on the part of Jesus, there was no love lost. He doesn’t force anyone anyway. And He will not dilute His demands just to accommodate us or so as not to lose us. As the Jesuit priest-educator James DiGiacomo puts it, “Jesus is organizing a field trip through the narrow gate and He’s not after numbers. Quality or commitment is the name of the game, not quantity or ‘do-goodiness’” (Morality and Youth: Fostering Christian Identity).

In fact, the question is not whether Jesus is good enough for you, or whether He is pleasing and charismatic enough for you to follow Him. Rather, it is whether Jesus is bad enough — yes, bad enough with His radical demands, bad enough to propose far more than a sugarcoated or “lollipop” Christianity (one that is concerned more with making you feel good and bereft of challenges and trials).

Face-to-face with such a make-or-break choice, we can’t help but identify with the prayer in our First Reading from the Book of Wisdom: “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the Spirit of wisdom came to me.” Truly, it is in prayer where we recognize and hear best God’s voice, where we discern His will.

Knowing God’s will and fulfilling it, knowing Jesus and following Him — this is no walk in the park. Nobody said it would be easy in the first place. Difficult and challenging as it is, it is nevertheless possible. “With God all things are possible.”

Notice: “With God.” That’s it — the will of God, not our own. He’s the one at the driver’s seat, not us. It will surely be a bumpy, risky ride, but still we’ll be in good hands. And hopefully we won’t back out and refuse to ride. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Recall your own faith journey. What have been your struggles and triumphs? Can you honestly say it’s been worth the journey?

 

Lord Jesus, following You isn’t easy, but I believe and trust that You will not leave me as I encounter difficulties in doing so.