Not for Ourselves Alone

At the time Matthew wrote his gospel the fact of having to break with one’s family was a very painful and concrete necessity. The leaders of the Jews had decided that those who converted to Christ were traitors and must be expelled from their families and would no longer be members of the people of Israel. Whoever chose to convert knew this choice would have very drastic financial, social and even emotional consequences.

Jesus had said, “Whoever loves mother, father…more than me is not worthy of me’’. Is there another meaning of those words?  Was Jesus asking his followers to give up everything, to become powerless? – Then who could follow and why?

Perhaps Jesus was giving a strong hint – perhaps following is a call, a vocation to share in the fate of God for the life of the world, a task that could only be done through, with and in God: a call to be converted, to become selfless, to allow Jesus to be first.

That is easier to understand. But as we know, we can’t convert ourselves; we have to be converted. We have to settle in the world in such a way that circumstances, reality, can get to us.

Circumstances abound; reality embraces attention. Jesus is here in the suffering, the needy, the homeless, co-workers, friends, family, strangers. There is a saying – What would Jesus do?