follow

AMos 8; Matthew 9:9-13


When we gather at the Eucharist to celebrate the mystery of God's love, we are invited to bend our ear to hear the story of faith. Routinely we gather bending our ear and listening for a word or phrase that may encourage us or guide us.

We only get snippets at a time of the story of faith though. Each morning we gather we get a few verses that contain a splash of words from Jesus or a glimpse into his lifestyle. Only little stories, one encounter at a time are we allowed to enter with each proclamation of the gospel.

But this is how we live our faith, one moment at a time, one day at a time. Our faith is always a journey of steps never leaps. We get to encounter Christ in every moment and each moment one at a time as our life unfolds. Thus, the gospel we encounter at Mass is meant to mirror our journey of life.

We must decide, like those in the gospel passages, how we will react or respond to each moment and each encounter. Will we follow or will we stand afar? Will we get close or will we stand back? will we rise like Matthew and follow or refuse to hear the call?

In all things we must decide, we must act, we must live one moment at a time!

Just remember this: If you want to guess what someone is doing then run head of him and stay in front, then all you get is a guess or two and you might guess right or guess wrong. But if you want to know someone then stay behind them. Walk where they walk, see what they see, do what they do. Only then will you catch a glimpse into the real person, only then will you get to know them truly.

Thus we live our life with Christ, never in front for we don't want to get ahead of ourselves or especially ahead of Him, but always behind following close, step by step. THis is why JEsus when he calls we hear, "follow me." When we stay behind him then our life will truly become something beautiful for God.

We don't have to figure out. We don't have to guess where it will go. We don't have to be in the know. We simply have to rise and follow where he goes. Ah! the beauty of faith...lived one moment at a time.