Master, To Whom Shall We Go?
2018년 8월 25일If following Jesus were easy, all the world would be Christian. The fact is, as Jesus says, “Many are called, few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14) Or to put it in a Baeism: “We make the sign of the cross, not the sign of the pillow.” Many of Jesus’ teachings are difficult to follow: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.” “Go, sell all you have and give it to the poor.” “He who seeks to save his life will lose it.” And of course, the hardest: “Love your enemies.”
But the deal breaker for many of the disciples was the passage we’ve been hearing for many weeks: “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you cannot have life within you.” Hearing this, today’s gospel states, many stopped following Jesus. Notice he doesn’t try to stop them, lure them back or water down his message. Instead he tell his disciples they too are free to go. Peter speaks for all of us when he asks, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.”
Being a follower of Jesus is not some popularity contest. The exact opposite! If anything, being known as a Catholic or Christian could even cost you friends—or even a relationship. What if you had to chose between remaining a Christian and losing your job, your friends, your marriage… your life? Christ alone offers us everlasting life. We all have to die someday, but how many of us will be truly alive before then? Jesus isn’t just someone to die for; he’s someone to live for. Choose life!