Prayer: O Lord, set us free to see those in this world who need You. O Lord, set us free to help those in this world who need You. O Lord, set us free to prayer for those in this world who need You. Christ have mercy. Amen.
Read St. Luke 9: 57 – 62
This is the story of the three men. On the road to Jerusalem
The first man states that he will follow Jesus wherever Jesus goes. But once Jesus says that they are not staying in high class hotels, the man leaves. Was not having a place to stay each night a deterrent for this follower? Yes indeed.
Then Jesus invites a man to join with them. This second man requests that everyone needs to wait while he buries his father. Is phrase is odd in itself. If this man’s father had just died this second man would have been unclean and not out on the roadways. He would have been home preparing the body for burial. After the burial there would have been the time of mourning. The time of mourning was anywhere from 7 to 30 days. At the end of the time of mourning, the man would go to the Synagogue and offer sacrifices to become clean again.
Jesus responds, “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s kingdom!” (Luke 9: 60 The Message Navpress, 2005).
The third man wanting to follow Jesus wants everyone to wait until he says good-bye to his family. Jesus responds, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9: 62 The Message Navpress, 2005).
Jesus is teaching that there is cost to being a follower of Christ. What, do you think are the costs of following Christ? What are the demands of following Christ?
This Lent, what one thing will you do so that others will know that you are a follower of Christ?
Prayer: Lord God Almighty, may we be true members of Your body, able to help in a time of need. What ever we can do for the least of these, help us to do our best to share Your love. This we ask in Christ’s name. Amen.
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