Follow Me June 2

Piety

Jesus, it sounds so easy when we read it. Follow me.

It sounds so simple when we hear it. Follow me.

It’s almost like the instructions we get with every appliance or tool. No problem. But, when we contemplate the full meaning and truly reflect upon what you are asking us to do, only then does the enormity of this request, this instruction, this teaching and command, reveal itself to us.

As the song says, “You never said it would be easy. You never said it would come free. The road that leads to Heaven climbs a hill called Calvary.”

Help us to take up our cross and follow you. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/060206.shtml

“Follow me.” John 21:22

Ten commandments. Two commandments. The Commandment of Love. We can look at the Bible in many different ways for the one nugget of truth. Perhaps in these two little words is packed the immense command and meaning for our journey in faith.

Follow me.

These two words have to be significant. These two words were among the first comments Jesus made to the disciples as they were recruited in the early chapters of John’s Gospel. Now, in the final sequence, they are among the final words Jesus speaks to Peter and the disciples after the breakfast on the beach and before the Ascension.

Follow me. Disciples come or go after Jesus in the most literal definition. So as Jesus did, the disciples of the day and the disciples of today proceed behind him.

Follow me. Disciples go after (as if in pursuit) of Jesus. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples pursued the kind of life he commanded, feeding and tending his sheep, loving others, and serving all humanity.

Follow me. Disciples are asked to keep watch, as Jesus requested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Follow me. Jesus laid out a path, a course to take in life and disciples take that path and followed that direction from Jesus.

Follow me. Disciples accepted the guidance, commands and leadership of Jesus as their spiritual master, rather than following precepts of the Roman law of traditional teachings of the Jewish faith.

Follow me. Jesus commanded the disciples to keep certain practices, such as the Mass as a commemoration of Jesus Last Supper, the washing of the feet, and more. “Do this in remembrance of me.” Disciples adhere to these traditional practices.

Follow me. Disciples follow the example set by Jesus and imitate Jesus – like that now famous phrase represented by the letters -- WWJD. “What would Jesus do?”

Follow me. Disciples act in agreement or compliance with what Jesus told them. They obey Jesus. This wasn’t easy and took work. Disciples are not perfect but, nonetheless, they pursued Jesus’ ideal.

Follow me. Disciples came after Jesus as in order, time or position, not unlike ordinary time comes after the stories of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

Follow me. Disciples bring something about as a consequence of following Jesus. They learn to love God through piety, know God through study and follow God through action.

Follow me. Disciples watch and closely observe the Church and what the Church, through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, require us to be attentive to.

Follow me. Disciples grasp the full meaning and understand the logic of love behind Jesus’ commands to go where Jesus went and to do what Jesus did.

Follow me. Disciples take the place of Jesus in order of time and they move along in unison. After the resurrection, when they fully understood what he had told them before, the disciples then fulfilled the role that Jesus pre-figured for them so they could carry on the act of love fully.

Follow me. Disciples succeed Jesus and increase the effectiveness and enhance the success of Jesus’ word and works by their further action to spread the Good News.

Follow me.

Action

What do you need to do to follow Jesus today?