Following Jesus Wherever He Goes
Introduction
The simple narrative of Abraham interceding for sinful Sodom and Gomorrah is very rich in content. 1. All nations, even these twin cities of sin, can be blessed on account of Abraham if they show just a little faith and repentance. 2. Abraham, the origin and leader of a new people, is presented as a mediator, who intercedes for the people, as Christ will do. 3. A small number of just people can save many sinners, on account of solidarity in sin and in goodness. This theme will be further developed in the Bible that one person can save all (cf. The Suffering Servant), what, in fact, Christ will do.
“Leave the dead to bury their dead.” Though implying total renunciation in the style of the Jewish rabbis, Jesus stresses more making a new beginning, getting uprooted from the past and breaking with it, so as not even to stay at home until one’s father dies, and accepting the insecurity of following Jesus and living the faith consistently and earnestly. Are we consistent? Are we radicals in the sense demanded by Jesus?
1 Reading: Genesis 18:16-33
Abraham and the men who had visited him by the Terebinth of Mamre set out from there and looked down toward Sodom; Abraham was walking with them, to see them on their way. The LORD reflected: “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, now that he is to become a great and populous nation, and all the nations of the earth are to find blessing in him? Indeed, I have singled him out that he may direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD may carry into effect for Abraham the promises he made about him.” Then the LORD said: “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out.” While the two men walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. Then Abraham drew nearer to him and said: “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty, so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?” The LORD replied, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham spoke up again: “See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?” He answered, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” But Abraham persisted, saying, “What if only forty are found there?” He replied, “I will forbear doing it for the sake of forty.” Then Abraham said, “Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will forbear doing it if I can find but thirty there.” Still Abraham went on, “Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?” He answered, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” But he still persisted: “Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?” He replied, “For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy t.” The LORD departed as soon as he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1b-2, 3-4, 8-9, 10-11
R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. R.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion. R.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever. R.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. R.
Alleluia Psalm 95:8
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other shore. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”
Commentary
So grave is the scandalous conduct connected with Sodom that the Lord moves toward its destruction. But first Abraham bargains with God, much like a customer in Balogun or Ochanja Main markets. If fifty innocent people could be found in Sodom, would the Lord spare the city? Yes, says God. Encouraged by his success, Abraham first drops the number by fives. Forty-five? Forty? God continues to affirm his intention to save the city. Emboldened, Abraham then drops the number by tens. Thirty, twenty, ten? The Lord is willing to withhold judgment, if even ten innocent people are found. In this account, God demonstrates his flexibility. His “changeability”. When it comes to Mercy, one his major divine attributes, God does change (his heart). He is not unchangeable!
The Gospel narrative, on the other hand, operates on a principle of single-mindedness. The intention to follow Jesus must take precedence over all other considerations. On a very practical level, Jesus is not going to object to a disciple’s burying his father. But what he will not accept is half-measures. One does not become a disciple by merely testing the waters. It must be a whole-hearted, single-minded commitment.
When it comes to treating others, compassion is paramount. When it comes to adherence to Christ, it’s all or nothing.
Blessing
“Follow me,” says Jesus. We have to leave behind everything that is not in conformity with his message. This applies not only to religious and missionaries. We have to understand and accept that the gospel is radical and asks us at times to take decisions that are even beyond bonds of family and all that is dear to us. May God give you this courage and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!