DAILY HOMILIES #disciples

Let us ask ourselves: “Am I a compassionate leader?” It is easy to point fingers at our leaders in Nigeria today, but we can only make a difference if we all begin pointing fingers at ourselves. Am I using my position to better the lives of those under me? As a father, am I compassionate towards my children? As a priest, do I feed my flock?

Mark tells us that Jesus “called to him the twelve.” Although they had been following Him, Jesus called them again before sending them out. This second call indicates spiritual empowerment. Religious life is a gift, not a profession. The book of Hebrews says: “One does not take the honour upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.” (Hebrews 5:4).

Life is a classroom, and your fears are the examination scripts. Naturally, we humans love the place of comfort; we would rather skip the exam and remain where we are, but the truth is that if we truly desire to move to the next level, we have to write our exams; that is, we have to face our fears; we must attempt to see what becomes of us when that which we fear happens.

You cannot give what you do not have. Like these disciples, you can only preach the Gospel after you have spent time with Jesus. Show me any good preacher, and I will show you someone who spends time with God’s Word daily. Jesus is still looking for people to continue His mission of saving the world. Pray and study the Bible more if you feel called to be a disciple. Jesus will open your eyes to see many things you never imagined before.

The Pharisees strongly criticised Jesus for breaking the Sabbath law. These Pharisees were always with Jesus. Instead of discovering what made Jesus and his disciples hungry to eat grains from the farm, they were only concerned about the “breaking of the law.” Do not be discouraged by your critics. Hope in God, not in human applause.

What have you left behind to follow Jesus? In other words, what is the cost of your discipleship? What do you have to let go to remain a Christian? If truly you have not left anything behind, it means your faith is a matter of convenience. The danger in this is that you could easily fall away in moments of trials. This explains why some Christians move from one “solution house” to another, not minding if they partake in idol worship. Christianity is not only about what we stand to gain from God; it is about carrying our crosses and following Jesus’ footsteps.

When we face troubles, challenges and difficulties, when things do not go as we planned, when we are tossed from all sides by the waves of disappointments, falsehood, failures, betrayals, setbacks, etc., we tend to ask questions such as, “God, where are you?” “Why me?” “Why this?” and “Why that?” Today, God says: “Even in your troubles, I am still with you.”

We often ask ourselves, “Where do I start? What impact will I even make?” Jesus came to save the whole world, and He had only thirty-three years to live on earth, thirty of which were spent in preparation. Today, the work Jesus began is still changing lives. The good you begin today, no matter how small, could snowball into something great; it might even outlive you.

Jesus did not do guesswork in his choice of the apostles. He didn’t select them according to their good looks or profession. He spent a whole night in prayer, consulting with God, who has plans, before making his choice.

That “one thing” needed is to seek God’s kingdom first. While you search for your daily bread, live righteously; pursue integrity, justice, purity, and love your neighbour as yourself. Make sure you avoid sin and entrust your difficulties to God. Don’t stay up all night worrying. Do that which is within your power and leave the rest to God. God can change your story within the twinkle of an eye. He can turn things around like He did for Job

By saying we should cut off our hands and feet and pluck our eyes, Jesus wants us to realise that we have power over sin and that the causes of sin are right within us. Stop blaming the devil for your sinful actions. It is what is inside you, not what is outside you, that is making you fall into sin. Jesus is not asking us to cut our bodies physically; rather, he wants us to cut off those bad thoughts, imaginations and desires within us that lead us to sin.

For Jesus, greatness is not having others serve you but becoming a servant to others. “If anyone wishes to be first (great), he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). In Matthew’s version of this passage, Jesus says: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4).