By Martin Madalai Muthu csc –
Readings: Rom 13: 8-10; Lk 14: 25-33
The usual question we are often asked is, ‘How are you?’, and we always have a readymade answer, ‘I am fine, what about you?’
Amidst the world’s myriad challenges, such as the Covid pandemic, deforestation, corruption, discrimination, and religious intolerance, if there is one thing to ask of you, it is this: ‘How is your Christian life?’ And if you get the same cliched response saying, ‘It’s perfectly fine and easy-going,’ then there is something wrong in our way of living the Christian life.
Jesus makes it clear that if we follow his footsteps, we are bound to face persecution and be despised by people of this world. Jesus is straightforward in defining the rules forfollowing him and foretells the challenges we may have to face on the way.
Today’s liturgy invites us to set him as our focus and follow him by carrying our own crosses. Our greatest love must be for him alone and this love must manifest through our actions in love for our neighbours, which is the crux of all commandments.
It is no more about feeling sympathy for them or being silent spectators. Rather, like Jesus, we need to act, stand for truth, and be prepared to face the consequences. This must first begin from our families and communities and further extend to the society. This way of life will prove to the people that we are the disciples of Christ to spread love, justice, and peace in this world.