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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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October 2004
A Challenge According to the Gospel of Luke
By
Father Steve Pawelk
Jesus' words are not always easy to follow. Consider this series of comments of Jesus as recorded by Luke:
"But to you who hear what I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (8:27)
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (9:23,24)
"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (14:25)
"You cannot serve God and mammon." (16:13)
"If you have faith the size of the mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." (17:6)
"How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God." (18:24)
This selected list contains but a few of the many ways Jesus calls his followers to discipleship. When read together, they leave a strong impression. Any one of these can give us more than enough to reflect upon.
These words help form the way of life for religious, but they are not words for just a select few--they are words for all disciples of Jesus. We are called, as followers of Jesus, to serve God, not things; to love everyone, including our enemies; and to have more faith in the Almighty than in ourselves. This call demands all our energy and all our heart and that is a lot to surrender. But if we could, then our world would be at peace.
It is the role of priests, brothers, and sisters to help light the way for others. As I have tried to be this light for others, I have found many lay people who have become light for me. I have found many who are holier, more generous, and more full of faith than I. Yet, I know that my commitments of celibacy, poverty, prayer and obedience encourage them. Thus, together as followers of Jesus we strengthen the world and move the mountains of problems that exist. It is possible.
For this to happen, it is necessary for every Christian to commit themselves to following Jesus--in our homes, among our friends, at our work and with the strangers on the street and around the world. Our every breath, every word, every action needs to be in service to God and his Kingdom. It is possible.
The gospel of Luke is full of strong advice and it wakes us to a new awareness. Now we have to go and live out the challenge found in the Gospel of Luke in our daily lives.
