MONDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Mt 8:18-22 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." (Mt 8:22)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Book of Amos

Am 2:6-10, 13-16

Thus says the LORD:

For three crimes of Israel, and for four,

I will not revoke my word;

Because they sell the just man for silver,

and the poor man for a pair of sandals.

They trample the heads of the weak

into the dust of the earth,

and force the lowly out of the way.

Son and father go to the same prostitute,

profaning my holy name.

Upon garments taken in pledge

they recline beside any altar;

And the wine of those who have been fined

they drink in the house of their god.

Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorites before them,

who were as tall as the cedars,

and as strong as the oak trees.

I destroyed their fruit above,

and their roots beneath.

It was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt,

and who led you through the desert for forty years,

to occupy the land of the Amorites.

Beware, I will crush you into the ground

as a wagon crushes when laden with sheaves.

Flight shall perish from the swift,

and the strong man shall not retain his strength;

The warrior shall not save his life,

nor the bowman stand his ground;

The swift of foot shall not escape,

nor the horseman save his life.

And the most stouthearted of warriors

shall flee naked on that day, says the LORD.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Mt 8:18-22

When Jesus saw a crowd around him,

he gave orders to cross to the other shore.

A scribe approached and said to him,

"Teacher, 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."

Another of his disciples said to him,

"Lord, let me go first and bury my father."

But Jesus answered him, "Follow me,

and let the dead bury their dead."

MONDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Mt 8:18-22

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

The Word of God today talks about the conditions for following the vocation of a devoted mission with Jesus Christ. The mission vocation life of Jesus Christ is an example, a living witness on this earth for all those who want to commit to walking on the path of devotion to God the Father. In this world, there is only one example of the consecrated life of Jesus Christ that is noble and perfect.

There is no other mission calling that is as perfect as that.

The image of the perfect consecrated life of Jesus Christ is shown through two of His answers to those who asked to follow Him, which are: "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." and "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead." Those two verses show that whoever follows Jesus Christ will have to work hard here and there, with no place to call their home, because for God all the heavens, the earth, and the universe all belong to Him and is His house. Anyone who is willing to commit to following Jesus Christ will have to accept difficulties and challenges as the image of Jesus Christ who went around the world preaching the Gospel of God. Here we are not talking about the actual person of Jesus Christ walking around the world, but about the living people who are His disciples. They are living images of Jesus Christ, going around the world preaching the Gospel of God. They called people to repent, abandon their sins, and return to God.

The life of preaching the Gospel is accepting an uncertain life like your Teacher. God said: everywhere in heaven and on earth, everything that exists was created by God and belongs to Him. Therefore, those who follow Jesus Christ on the path of devotion do not worry about wealth, material things, or homes in this world. Trust in God and His power.

The Word of God wants to emphasize the renunciation of worldly possessions, for those who follow God, to trust in the providence and care of God the Father. He also calls those who have followed God to put God above everything in their daily life activities. Give up all wealth, material things, and all the comforts of human life, and entrust themselves to the mercy and loving care of God the Father. Just rest assured and work confidently for God. He will provide perfect care for everything in this world. That is God's invitation to those who want to devote themselves and walk on the path of vocation, the mission of being a prophet for God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.