Daily Reflections - October 21,2012

DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

 

Years ago, I headed what we call a “major climb” to the Philippines’ second highest peak. At the last minute, someone from the US turned up and said he wanted to join. He just planed in and was pretty well stocked with imported and very fine gear. They were impressive, to say the least, during those days when imported products were as rare as they were expensive. He said he was very physically in shape so I waived the usual pre-climb requirements that included resistance-building, long-distance runs and all.

It didn’t take long for us to realize he was not at all prepared. He was as out of shape as a flat tire. At a particularly precipitous and dangerous portion of the climb, he was paralyzed in fear and terror. He wouldn’t budge and was spreading fear to the rest of the team, including myself.

I should have known better to ask, “Do you have what it takes?” I should have taken stock of what he was really prepared to do.

Taking stock of what’s coming — this appears to me as part of what the Lord teaches today. Two upstarts, the brothers James and John, as ambitious as they were pretentious, asked the Lord for the ultimate: a seat at His right and at His left. Those must have been the times when the two youthful would-be disciples didn’t quite know yet what was coming to them, and what the demands were. They simply wanted the rewards without knowing the requirements.

My years in leadership have taught me this. Not everyone who claims he is up to the job is actually ready for it. I have interviewed many teachers who wanted to teach. There were those who claimed they could but eventually could not deliver. They were simply not cut out for the job.

Discipleship is difficult. It is no accident that the word disciple is really related to the word discipline. You need it to become one. We claim to be disciples of the Lord. Do we have what it takes? “Can you drink the cup that I drink?” Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What discipline do you need to follow Jesus more ardently and faithfully?

 

Lord Jesus, on my own I cannot be Your faithful disciple. Only Your grace can turn me into one. Help me each day to follow You as best as I can.