Why would anyone follow Jesus? What would be good reasons? Back in the day, fear was a motivating factor. Fear marketing still is an effective marketing strategy. Trigger fear in people’s minds and sell it. Fear of dying, death, afterlife, hell, etc. We can go on. If these are the reasons to follow Jesus, it’s straight-up depressing. How can his good news be good? How can the Holy Bible be holy? There must be better reasons to follow Jesus that not only motivate us but also convince and compel us to follow freely and wholeheartedly. It should never be coerced.
Also, no one can follow Jesus just because one wants to according to today’s gospel lesson. He expects a full commitment. Then, our initial question, “Why would anyone follow Jesus?” should be addressed to Jesus himself as “Jesus, what do I gain from following you, living like you?” While there would be many responses from the gospels, I would like to link it to St. Paul’s insight from the second lesson which we didn’t read this morning: “For freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” (Galatians 5:1, 13-15) The key word here is freedom. For freedom, we follow Jesus. Freedom is the reason to follow in his footsteps, but this freedom is not “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint” as we usually understand. We’re strictly talking about the freedom Jesus manifests in his way of life. We’re drawn and attracted to the person of Jesus who is set free from everything but love. It’s the freedom from self, particularly thoughts and feelings from which one creates one’s self-image. We find in Jesus the way to freedom from self to God’s beloved. How often do we suffer from our own thoughts and feelings that are evoked from various relationships we have with others? What about the self-image we fabricate using those thoughts and feelings as raw materials? In this constant I-making process, which is neither mindfully watched nor is skillfully done, we become believers in our self-image. We are fixated on that image to the point we’re supposed to act in ways dictated by that image. Controlled and enslaved by our own creation. We’re locked in not just one but many of these fabricated images which in turn hold us back from reaching out to others. Then we suffocate and suffer in isolation. Jesus never puts himself in a box. He’s the son of a carpenter, uneducated and low in social status. He doesn’t want to be called a teacher. He never calls himself the Son of God but the Son of Man, a fellow human being just like everyone else. He’s free from all the labels both his followers and haters would like to put on. He’s never hung up on any images he creates for himself but on the cross only as God’s Beloved and remains as one, inviting those who follow him as God’s beloved. Imagine that you have no second thoughts about yourself. No self-doubt. No self-attack. No self-indulgence. Free from any remorse thoughts and feelings about yourself. Don’t pay attention to your self-worth but to your actions. What actions of kindness, goodwill, compassion, joy, and love can I give to others as God’s beloved rather than what kind of person should I be in order to do all those good deeds? In doing so, we can learn that the best way to love oneself is to be free from oneself. Loving neighbors is not the end but the means to that end that paradoxically helps us love ourselves in a healthy manner. Recollect your memories of genuinely helping others when you have no ulterior motives, no intention to save or rescue them as if you can somehow redeem yourself by helping those who are in a similar situation as yours. We feel happy for ourselves and others. There’s no attempt to take any credit. It’s not even necessary because recognition doesn’t make us happy at this point. This kind of act is content in itself and selfless in its nature. Being liberated from our own baggage, we act in love, goodwill, and compassion. This is the life Jesus leads us into. The kingdom of God within myself is never “my” kingdom but to live as God’s beloved in God’s kingdom. We set aside our fabricated images of self and willingly invite God to create us. God re-creates us not in better-perfect self-images but based on acts of grace, love, and compassion for others in God’s own image. My friends in Christ, to follow Jesus is to be liberated from self to God’s beloved and also from things we are attached to. Visualize yourself being so light without any heavy burdens that you’re truly free as Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Isn’t this life good? “The soul is kissed by God in its innermost regions. With interior yearning, grace and blessing are bestowed. It is a yearning to take on God's gentle yoke, It is a yearning to give one's self to God's Way.” (Hildegard of Bingen) |
Paul"...life up your love to that cloud [of unknowing]...let God draw your love up to that cloud...through the help of his grace, to forget every other thing." Archives
January 2025
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