Today’s text follows
immediately after the first three miracles of Matthew’s Miracle Cycle. In the
first three miracles, the disciples are not mentioned at all and the focus is
solely on the authority of Jesus. The text of today and the miracles that
follow emphasise discipleship. The scribe who addresses Jesus in the text of
today is clearly not a disciple because of the term he uses to address Jesus,
namely “Teacher”. In Matthew, only disciples address Jesus as Lord. The scribe
is informed through Jesus’ response that firstly Jesus is the one who will take
the initiative to call and secondly that his priorities need to be changed. The
life to which Jesus calls will need a reversal of priorities. To the second
disciple, Jesus’ response seems hard and brusque. Some interpret this to mean
that the spiritually dead must be left to bury the physically dead. However,
the point is that absolutely nothing can come in the way of Jesus’ call.
Following Jesus on Mission
means become an “other-centred” person from being self-centred. It will mean
giving up the Ego and placing the other’s need before my own. It may mean
giving up what one holds dear and near. It is an unconditional following.
No comments:
Post a Comment
You may use the "Anonymous" option to leave a comment if you do not possess a Google Account. But please leave your name and URL as www.errolsj.com