“If people want to become my followers, let them deny their very selves, take up their cross daily, and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them; those who lose their lives for my sake will save them”
If we did not have to work, it would be easy to be saints, easy to take up the cross, we say. There is just too much to do!
It is hard to give Jesus much time. After all, we must make a living, we say. So, Jesus, make an appointment please - to tell us what life is . . .
But tomorrow,
Not today.
Jesus was visiting Capernaum, a town in Galilee. It was a business day, Tuesday, and he walked through the milling crowds in the supermarket, cafeterias, and office buildings. Every once in a while he would stop and talk to anyone who would listen about the nature of God and man. He told everyone that God loved humankind and that men and women should love God in return. - Always on Sunday, and even on Tuesday.
The people were disturbed at these words. It was not normal for a man to speak so forcefully of God on Tuesday. As Jesus finished his noontime talk in City Hall Plaza, a man confronted him.
“Leave us alone!” he cried. “Don’t bother us today; there is too much to do.
I will listen to you on Sunday, but not today.
Don’t bother me today! I have too much to do!
Today I must go to work;
There are deals to be closed;
There are calls to be made;
There are meetings to be held;
I must go to a convention today;
I must go to court.”
“God, don’t bother me today; I have too much to do!
I must shop today;
I must take the children to school;
I must clean.”
“God, don’t bother us today!
There are plans to be made;
And bombs to be dropped;
And people to be killed;
And protests to be made.”
“God, don’t bother us today!
For today we must die.”
“What do you want of us on a weekday, Jesus?
Have you come to destroy us?
Do you wish to distract us from our deals?
Do you wish to distract us from our shopping?
Do you wish to hinder us from waging wars?
Won’t you let us die in peace?”
Jesus replied: “You should listen to me today.
If you can’t hear me on Tuesday, there will be no Sunday words.
Every day is God’s day.
Everyday has my message.
If you are distracted on Monday, I will call you back to reality.
If you are upset on Tuesday, I will support you.
If you are sad on Wednesday, I will console you.
If you are happy on Thursday, I will laugh with you.
If you are lonely on Friday, I will talk with you.
If you die on Saturday, I will be with you through the end of your earthly week.”
The people were impressed. They asked each other: “What is there about his speech? He clears up confusion in our minds and we can see!”
That evening there was much excited talk in the city about his words. Then all went to bed.
The next day Christ gave another noontime talk at City Hall Plaza. As the people rushed by they shouted at him:
“Leave us alone! Don’t bother us today! There is too much to do!
Talk to us on Sunday! Today is only Wednesday.”
Are we like the people I just mentioned? Do we understand, or only partially understand, Jesus, who he is and his mission - and our task in following him?
