13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) : Monday 1st July 2024

Prophet Amos courageously denounced the exploitative and irreligious conduct of Israel. He likened the denigration of human dignity to a pair of sandals, the poor being trampled, licentious behaviour has no moral shame; profaning vessels and rites for pleasure of irreligiosity.  Despite facing harassment, the Prophet Amos didn’t throw God’s Word to the winds. He prophesied the day of woe for Israel. Yet Israel was oblivious and slumbered to the coming woe of infirmity and the vanishing power of youthful agility.

In the Gospel, Jesus is ensuring His followers  acknowledge the cost of discipleship. The two offers by the scribe and one of his disciples to Jesus showcase one thing – their unresolved reliance upon their ability, comfort and family ties. For them, Jesus is still secondary.

Jesus, however, challenges the two to further reflection. The scribe is challenged to consider the rough and rugged life of being a disciple. For being a scribe is a comfortable status in society. The man, who is already a disciple, must accept that following Jesus means having total trust and reliance, to the point of leaving others to do their familial duty.

To follow Jesus is to leave our comfort zone. It entails sacrifice, especially in time of illness. We turn to Jesus, the healer of all afflictions.

Lord,  make us true disciples. In vitality, let us serve wholeheartedly; and in infirmity, with total trust in You.