Wednesday, October 1, 2003
26th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Ne 2:1-8
Gospel: Lk 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

To another Jesus said, "Follow me." But he answered, "Let me go back now, for first I want to bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their dead; as for you, leave them and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Another said to him, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family." And Jesus said to him, "Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God."

Commentary

"Whoever has put his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God." When I was a young boy, my father used to bring me with him to work in our rice fields. I watched him as he prepared the carabao for plowing. Once he started plowing, he never looked back, always looking forward to see the carabao and the plow in front of him so that the land will be properly tilled. The kingdom of God as Jesus envisioned it cannot be for half-hearted individuals. The kingdom of God demands the absolute surrender of oneself. "Seek first the kingdom and all other things shall be given unto you." Jesus gave everything he had for the kingdom, his preaching was about the Good News of the kingdom. His miracles were a confirmation that indeed the kingdom has come through him. His death on the cross was the result of his unwavering commitment to the kingdom and his resurrection is the victory of the kingdom of God over sin and death. Are we fit for the kingdom?

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