WHO LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT.

XIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 10:37-42

One day, while Jesus was surrounded by a big crowd, they told him: Your mother and your relatives are looking for you. It seems that Jesus did not bother and gave an answer that left his listeners puzzled. To the crowd, he asked: “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mk 3:32-35). Jesus’ answer made it clear that blood ties don’t matter. He has a different family - the true family of believers, whose only concern is to do the will of God. The will of God is paramount, taking precedence over everything else. The ones who do that follow Jesus’ footsteps and are his true disciples.

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus demands a clear-cut decision from all those who follow him: they must put God first and above everything else. Among the Bembas, there is the saying “abafyashi e balesa ba bubili” (parents are a second god). We may accept the statement as true, since they cooperate with God in the work of creation, bringing forth new life. However, we have to be reminded that there is not a second god. Only God is God and to him alone we give honour and glory. There is a commandment ordering us to honour father and mother (Ex 20:12). However, if they take the place of God and demand the obedience that belongs to God alone, then we must prostrate ourselves before God.

The discipleship of all those who have chosen to follow Jesus is very demanding: “Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.” We must carry the cross, as Jesus did. And the saving of our lives is not of paramount importance and doesn’t override everything else. Throughout the centuries, many Christians seemed to be reckless with their lives, being ready to shed their blood for Jesus Christ. They are the ones who found true life. Being one with Christ in death, they became one with him in resurrection. Indeed, “But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him” (Ro 6:8).