13th Sunday - Way of Discipleship

The movie “Parenthood” an old old film from 1989 starred Steve Martin as the uptight, but very worried and concerned father. He struggles with what he thinks a good parent is; and in this struggle creates tension with his family. The cathartic moment comes when utter chaos happens in a school play and everyone around him laughs, but he, initially horrified, finally gets it and engages in the chaos and the humor and laughs. Always committed to family, but he needed the humility and the flexibility to be truly engaged in his family.

When we priests get together we swap stories. The even older guys also share the infamous stories of days gone by; especially how certain priests after the Vatican II council and the changes that occurred resisted and hated those changes, and just became grumpy mean guys, even yelling at other priests at mass. They were committed, but lacked humility and flexibility. Their days did not end in joy, but in bitterness.

Couples married for years and with joy will share how they managed. They committed themselves to the vows they made in front of God and the community. They worked through their downs and offered forgiveness when there was hurt. They remained adaptable and flexible to new situations, especially if and when the little ones came around. It was not always easy; yet the end was a rewarding marriage and a true partnership.

Men and women living in religious life and having that same joy will also speak of their commitment to their vows and promises they made in front of God and community. They work through their trying times and worked with forgiveness to heal. The joyous ones adapted and grew, allowing themselves to be changed to fit the news of their communities. It is not easy, was not easy; yet in the end they experienced that joy. The bitter ones I have encountered, both Nuns and Priests, were the ones that refused to grow, refused to adapt.

Becoming and Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ, this is not an end in itself. It is a means to an end, that end being Salvation, freedom, the fullness of life.  Following the teachings of Jesus and the way, is the way to engaging in life, in all its fullness. This is Salvation, this is freedom.  The discipline of discipleship help us, but again, these are not the ends.

What does it take to Live life well, to be fully engaged? Jesus teaches us in our Gospel: three particular ways, Humility, Flexibility, and commitment.

The disciples angered by the insult of the Samaritans wanted to take their vengeance. Jesus says let it go, don’t stay angry but forgive and move forward.

One person has that newby enthusiasm of an early convert…Jesus says this will not always be easy and there will need to be adjustments.

Another facing obligations Jesus reminds him that this commitment to being a disciple will take precedent.

See, being a disciple of Christ is not just the hour or so we give on Sundays. It really transcends into our daily lives, into our very being, to give us life. To give us the way to engage in life, engage in living.

It is a way that never ends, it is always ongoing, calling us deeper and deeper.

It is not easy though. So easy to get sidetracked: by our egos, our fears, by shiny objects that catch our attention. We are going along, life is fine, but then something bothers us; we get caught up in what seems a contradiction, what seems a conflict; the news blasts about events, or supreme court decisions; something happens that challenges our concept of what makes us think we are safe and KABLOOM… we enter into a rabbit hole of thoughts, our defenses come up and we become rigid. We get those stony hearts, bitterness creeps in.

It happens to all of us.

Commitment to a spiritual life; prayer, scripture, contemplation and meditation, of acts of charity…these will pull us through.  Celebrating our Eucharist, giving thanks to God for life and trusting that God remains present, even amid what seems dark and chaotic.

Being humble and flexible will keep us open, helping our hearts to be natural ones.

With those hearts, those open minds, with that faith and trust, we can find life; we can engage in living.  Whether as wife, husband, priest, nun, deacon, single person, young, old or somewhere in between; at work, at home, at play, in meetings, wherever and whenever we are...Life is open to us.

That is what it means to be a disciple.