Gospel Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, ‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass Intention is for
Reflection
In this reading Jesus challenges us with the seriousness of our decision to follow him. Notice too that the love that lasts is what matters in his commitment to you as it does in yours to him. He does not hide the implications of your decision to follow him and that your commitment to him must go beyond a short term emotional one.
If you wish to dwell with this reading in Jesus’ presence, notice how you feel about Jesus laying it on the line for you in this way. Speak to him about how this challenge makes you feel. For example, a part of you might feel threatened by what he says and another part might feel energised by his honesty.
God Bless you all Deacon Martyn