What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus? — Scripture Quotes
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.”Ps. 90
Perhaps the mediocrity of many Christians who think they can follow Jesus without letting go of their selfishness, and by combining their faith with all kinds of sin-comes from a lack of radicality and clarity in the preaching, often watered down or ambiguous to soften the radical words of Jesus such as these:
Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
Whoever loves father, mother, or children more than me is not worthy of me.
If anyone wants to be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
So that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and rose for them.
We do not belong to ourselves; if we live, we live for the Lord-for we are His.
Do not conform yourselves to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern the will of God-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Whoever has Christ has life; whoever does not have Christ does not have life.
Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.
For them I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. (Jesus, praying to the Father)
Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
Whatever was gain to me I now consider loss, in order to gain Christ.
You cannot serve two masters… you cannot serve both God and money.
Depart from me, you accursed, for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat… when you did not do it for the least of these, neither did you do it for me.
Wide is the gate that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.
Blessed are you when people persecute you and slander you…
In all these biblical texts, it is clear that following Jesus is not a game, nor something that allows one to keep living as before. It is clear that it is not about simply going to Mass on Sundays while living a life indistinguishable from that of someone who does not follow Jesus. Following Jesus makes radical differences, such as:
- Being able to help those in need both in body and soul — by giving time, attention, words, counsel, money, and support.
- Being able to forgive offenses and continue loving.
- Living to please God, not oneself nor others.
- Always seeking the will of God.
Readings of the Week
Sunday: Wis 9:13-18b/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17 (1)/PhIm 9-10, 12-17/Lk 14:25-33
Monday: Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30/Ps 13:6ab, 6c/Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23
Tuesday: Col 2:6-15/Ps 62:6-7, 9/Lk 6:12-19
Wednesday: Col 3:1-11/Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab/Lk 6:20-26
Thursday: Col 3:12-17/Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6/Lk 6:27-38
Friday: 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14/Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11/Lk 6:39-42
Saturday: 1 Tm 1:15-17/Ps 113:1b-2, 3-4, 5a and 6-7/Lk 6:43-49
Next Sunday: Nm 21:4b-9/Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Grandparents Day
Monday: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday: Saint Peter Claver Corberó, Priest
Thursday: Patriots’ Day
Friday: The Most Holy Name of Mary
Saturday: Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Next Sunday: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
