Follow Me

Today’s Gospel Text: The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Beth-sa'ida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:43-51

Reflection: We are creatures who follow either blindly or obediently or rebelliously, but we follow.

In the gospel we have Philip who is called to follow, by Jesus, and he follows Jesus immediately.

In keeping with the characteristics of following, he could have followed his own thoughts and thinking, did he really require someone in life to follow.

There were many in Israel even at that time whom one could follow too. Along with these many, there must have been many thoughts and philosophies and ideas in society dominated by pagan Rome and he could have opted to follow them.

After all, did he not have a Greek background, at least in name and hence he must have had some Hellenistic influence in life.  His name in Greek means; lover of horses.

What was there to prevent him to a life of loose living on the jackpots and about Greek wisdom and learning?

Philips action of following Jesus is not a blind action but an action based on a sure knowledge, as if his heart has been prepared for this by the many years of his earnest search:  

"We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (vs. 45)

A few minutes of interaction with Jesus is enough to convince him of the special place and role of Jesus and the fact that he proclaims Christ to others, with such immediacy, is a proof of his sharp discerning mind, trained in the art of discernment with God’s prophetic word as his sure guide.

A discerning mind makes following easy and Philip knows that it is not enough to just have a discerning mind or a wise mind but rather to have him who is capable of all things, Jesus Christ, is more important than anything in life.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray that I may know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share your sufferings, becoming like you in your death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Cfr. Phil 3:10-11)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Followers and Disciples

Scripture/Bible:  After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" John 6:1-14

Reflection:  There are various reasons why one would follow a leader. Today’s gospel reading reveals one  such reason why people followed Jesus, viz. signs of his healing people from diseases.  They were, for the sake of signs, even willing to follow Jesus across the Sea of Galilee on the other side. 

Signs are a great attraction and seeing those signs they may have recognized Jesus as someone great and mighty.  But did they recognize the real Jesus and how he is to be recognized?

Unless he reveals himself to them they will never be able to recognize him as he is to be recognized. No smart man on earth can do that, even with one’s best learning or observational ability.  What they recognized about Jesus was commendable but not legitimately correct.

Hence we could safely ask; were these in reality followers of Jesus? Did they recognize Jesus as who he is?  No.

What Jesus wants is true followers; one’s who are willing to learn the serious things of the kingdom of God from him and willing to dedicate themselves as his disciples. 

Here is a clear sign of discrimination between the ordinary followers and the serious followers. It is the disciples he can lead to the test and speak the secrets of the kingdom, and here in this case he speaks to Philip; “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?"  vs 5.

While the effect of his signs were meant for the benefit of the people the learning from the sign was meant for his disciples; “This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.” Vs. 6

Prayer:  Lord, lead me by thy light and guide me to the truth.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Idolaters

Scripture/Bible:  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.  Matt 26:14-16

Reflection:   "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” this communicates the character Judas, in the great drama that unfolds before us. 

This sort of avariciousness could manifest in many forms.

What will I get out of this? How will I benefit from this? Will I become that which I aspire to be? What will I gain in return for my investment? How is my interest going to be served?

The above questions are not so harmful in themselves if practiced in an ethical way but they become vicious and terribly evil when such things are achieved at the cost of someone else’s life or at the cost of truth. “If I deliver him to you”; is a betrayal of the other and for self gain.

This betrayal may not always be through 30 pieces of silver but could be through slander, gossip, backbiting and maligning. It may not necessarily be for wealth but could be for power and positions, fame and fan following, health and not just wealth. 

There are many who prefer to betray their Lord and master, who shed his blood for them, in order to seek health, wealth and favor, some do it through occult new age practices or through compromise of the faith of Christ. These will compromise the doctrine of Christ for cheap gain and popularity, for security and recognition. Some think that to please people is a form of godliness but ultimately it is a form of greed to want to be called nice and good.

No wonder scripture affirms such greed as a form of idolatry. (Col. 3:5)

The modern day Judases are many but with the Lord there is mercy. It is necessary that one repents and turn to him opting for the narrow road which he invites his followers to walk on, order to receive his mercy; “He who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matt 10:38-39

Prayer: Lord, may I humbly seek you and your ways and not in the ways of idolaters.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Jesus the Only Way

Today’s Gospel:  And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37 For what can a man give in return for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38

Reflection:  The God of Salvation speaks; presenting himself as the key to their salvation: "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.

I could imagine the great men inviting people to follow them either with a great eloquence or their personal charm or with money or with some intrigue or hope.  Has there been anyone who has invited his followers to be at the receiving end.  Kingdoms and regimes have been overthrown on the basis of hope and gratifications in our days.

But Jesus offers no external hope except the hope of a life saved which has always been questioned; who has seen it?

In this offer of Salvation Jesus proclaims himself as the key to salvation as in Jn. 14:6. It is not just his values or principles or commandment of love or instructions but himself; to lose one’s life for His sake and the gospel’s (which is about Him).

Prayer:  The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Ps 18:2

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us