The Gospel of Luke, chapter 9:62

The cost of discipleship cannot be avoided or toned down or filtered or softened. This is evident from today’s gospel. God knows we are all tempted to make a dash for cheap grace, to skirt the real issue of cross-bearing. But, we cannot ignore the message of Christ in today’s scripture, plain to be seen: “no one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit fior the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus was concerned about the troubling direction of His popularity when He performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. After He performed this miracle, the confidence of His followers was boundless. They saw His star rising and they expected to rise with Him too. The disciples had everything to gain and nothing to lose by following such a miracle-worker. This, they thought, was the dream of dreams; the good and wonderful life at its best.

But, this giddy enthusiasm, spurred on by the abundance of free food turns on a dime So, Jesus had to speak directly to the whole issue at hand. He absolutely insists that He and all who would follow Him must take hold of the plow and start furrowing without looking back; they must take up the cross; must lose life in order to gain life.
Two of Jesus’ disciples thought differently, and asked Him if they could expect to be rewarded by juicy promotions in His kingdom. ( Matthew 20 :21 ) Jesus rejected this leprosy of careerism in His kingdom, insisting that His disciples must deny themselves and follow him. No room for career promotions in the Lord’s kingdom; only a life of self denial and loving service.

Cardinal Gantin was the prefect for the congregation of Bishops at the Vatican. Upon his retirement he decried the curse of careerism among Bishops who often pressured him to promote them to bigger Dioceses where there was money in abundance. Evidently, these Bishops ignored or forgot the admonition of Christ against careerism in his kingdom.

Following Christ is not about obtaining positions of honor or power in His kingdom; it is about embracing a life dedicated to loving one another as He has loved us.

Fr. Hugh Duffy