You go, I go, or you go I will follow, have we not used this lines many times in our lives? For one we were reluctant to go ourselves for whatever reason. We decide then that if we are compelled to go we want companionship. Some would even say, if we have to suffer let’s suffer together. Then there is the aspect that I do not want to take the lead, for I am not comfortable with the unknown, so at least if there are pitfalls along the way, then whoever takes the lead will either fall first or lead me round them to safety. Or I simply don’t want the responsibility of leading others for then I will likely be held accountable for any thing that goes awry. All these lines are used more often than not in matters of faith; spoken or unspoken! The worst of it all is that when it is time to really follow or go we are then nowhere to be found.
Too difficult and just too hard! For Jesus Himself said that ‘foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Signifying that the road we take in following Him as disciples will be hard and challenging. How often have I said that I know better then to….but fall nonetheless and repeat my sins and shortcomings. I shout and scold when I should be patient and understanding . Or how to lead others when I am tempted to give in to my own desires instead of sacrificing my time and talents for them. What other excuses have we come up with to remain spiritually dead? Have we forgotten then that Jesus also told us that His yoke is easy and His burden light, when we take His yoke upon us? Telling us that He is with us through it all, carrying our burdens with us and giving us the grace to do so.
We are called to be leaders, like Father Abraham , to be obedient unto the Lord our God. Always having faith and trust in Him so that we too like him can intercede for sinners; and by our example lead them home to our Heavenly Father. We can surely accomplish this and more, when we live in the Spirit through the power of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
First reading
Genesis 18:16-33 ·
Abraham negotiates with the Lord
From Mamre the men set out and arrived within sight of Sodom, with Abraham accompanying them to show them the way. Now the Lord had wondered, ‘Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am going to do, seeing that Abraham will become a great nation with all the nations of the earth blessing themselves by him? For I have singled him out to command his sons and his household after him to maintain the way of the Lord by just and upright living. In this way the Lord will carry out for Abraham what he has promised him.’ Then the Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’
The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’
Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’
When he had finished talking to Abraham the Lord went away, and Abraham returned home.
Gospel
Matthew 8:18-22
The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head
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.’
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