Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Thursday 28 March |
Holy Thursday of the Supper of the Lord
Aleteia logo
Spirituality
separateurCreated with Sketch.

Escapes, excuses, compromises: 3 Ways not to follow Jesus

PIEDI, CAMMINARE, STRADA

siam.pukkato | Shutterstock

Fr. Luigi Maria Epicoco - published on 09/28/22

All too often religion can become a way to escape from the drama of life and not to deal with it.

Please consider a gift for Aleteia!
Help us spread the joy of Christ's victory.
Aleteia depends on your support.

Join our Lenten Campaign 2024.

DONATE NOW

Today’s readings can be found here. Read Fr. Epicoco’s brief reflections on the daily Mass readings, Monday through Saturday, here. For Sunday Mass reading commentary from Fr. Rytel-Andrianik, see here.

Three ways of following are recounted in today’s Gospel. The first person seems to offer the Lord all his readiness, but Jesus does not accept it:

“‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.’”

We infer from Jesus’ response that this man was looking to Christ for a “den,” that is, for reassurance, but all too often religion can become a way to escape from the drama of life and not to deal with it.

In the second case, it is Jesus who takes the initiative, but the response seems to put a serious impediment to this proposal:

“To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’ But he answered him, ‘Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.’”

Obviously, Jesus does not want to downplay the responsibility we have to our parents – that would be like inviting us to break one of the commandments – but he wants to warn us against living life as a hostage to other people’s expectations, be they even the expectations of our parents. Following Jesus means taking responsibility for our own life and not for others’ dreams about us.

The third and final option seems more of a compromise, but again Jesus calls for radicality:

“And another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’ Jesus answered him, ‘No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what is left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

One cannot make important choices by seeking compromises. The things that matter are always all or nothing.

In summary: “No” to Jesus as an escape route! “No” to excuses! “No” to compromises!

~

Father Luigi Maria Epicoco is a priest of the Aquila Diocese and teaches Philosophy at the Pontifical Lateran University and at the ISSR ‘Fides et ratio,’ Aquila. He dedicates himself to preaching, especially for the formation of laity and religious, giving conferences, retreats and days of recollection. He has authored numerous books and articles. Since 2021, he has served as the Ecclesiastical Assistant in the Vatican Dicastery for Communication and columnist for the Vatican’s daily newspaper L’Osservatore Romano.

Tags:
GospelSpiritual Life
Support Aleteia!

Enjoying your time on Aleteia?

Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you.

Thanks to their partnership in our mission, we reach more than 20 million unique users per month!

Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more.

Support Aleteia with a gift today!

jour1_V2.gif
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.