16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

July 21, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Genesis 18: 1-10a

Psalm: 69 “He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 24-28

Gospel reading according to Luke 10: 38-42

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Homily: Martha and Mary

Jesus informed many people that in their villages, through his disciples and apostles, he will come and visit them.  One of the villages he visited was the village in Bethany, to the house of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  Jesus had special relationship with Martha, her sister Mary, and her brother Lazarus.  They were expecting the coming of Jesus beforehand as announced by his apostles.  So Martha and Marry were very busy in preparing the house, the utensils they will use, the food and drinks they will share, and they themselves were also prepared.  Everything was set and ready, but Martha exaggerated a little more touches.  And Jesus came.  “Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him” (Luke 10: 38).  As truly good hosts of so important a guest and friend, they prepared the day of the coming of the Lord in their house.  Martha was the first one who welcomed Jesus and his companions in their house.  Martha offered sits and served the Lord and his disciples aperitif, afterwards she continued setting the table and the food she was cooking.  She was very busy and later realized that Mary, her sister, was out of the kitchen and not helping her.  This is an ordinary scenario when we are receiving guests or visitors or friends in our house, we prepared food and drinks first before meeting and facing (istimahin) our guests.  But, in that village, an important guest was entering the house of Martha, of Mary and Lazarus.

Who is Martha who welcomes Jesus?  She is a typical Jewish woman who does not mingle with the Jewish men.  She is the stereotype woman whose role is in the house – kitchen, food and drink, cleaning the house, washing and ironing clothes, washing the dishes, marketing, etc., the works usually do of women, and if she is married, raising and taking care of children.  She avoided talking, listening and speaking with other people, or exchanging ideas; for her what is important is the order of the home where she lives.  She does not go out, making friends, a silent type woman whose occupation is work, work and work in the house.  Maybe the only time she goes out is when she worships in the Temple in Jerusalem which is near to their place, a walking distance, two miles from Bethany to Jerusalem.  Martha is hospitable to her special guest – Jesus.  Hospitality is one Martha believed its importance.

So entered Mary, the younger sister of Martha and Lazarus, who was interested to Jesus more than anything else.  “She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak” (Luke 10: 39).  Mary ignores the rule of hospitality and left Martha worked alone in the kitchen in order to sit and to listen to Jesus and to learn from him.  Mary did what was not supposed to do by a Jewish woman in front of men, sitting at the feet of a man (Jesus), who was not her husband, a brother or a father.  With all men in the reception/receiving room, Mary listened to Jesus’ words while sitting at his feet.  She did not mind the Jewish traditions and rules, especially the role of women in the Jewish society.  She liberated herself from the grip of male dominance when she sat at the feet of Jesus.  While Jesus respected the right of Mary to be with his (male and Jewish) disciples, to sit and listen to him.

And, who is this Mary who sits at Jesus’ feet? Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, who sat at the Lord’s feet when he visited her family in Bethany, had chosen "the better part," that of listening to the master's discourse.  Mary took "the place of a disciple” by sitting at the feet of the teacher. It was unusual for a woman in first-century Judaism to be accepted by a teacher as a disciple.  By sitting and listening to the words of Jesus Christ, she does what a theologian epitomizes.  She studied the words of Jesus Christ and applied them for her community’s enlightenment and action.

Martha, who did all the works to give satisfaction to their special guest, felt overburdened.  She needed the helping hands and/or extra hands from her sister, Mary.  For her to set the table and the food to be served were the most important than to sit and to listen, and sometimes to share in the discussion, were secondary in attending (istimahin) the visitors’ need. “Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?  Tell her to help me’.” (Luke 10: 40).  As their special friend and very close to the family, Martha was so familiar to Jesus; he was also treated as the elder brother of the family, so she confidently told Jesus to scold Mary and go to help Martha (abalang-abala) in the kitchen.  That was what Martha only needed, a helping hand, a helper to make the work fast and finish before meal.  This is also her way in showing her love to Jesus.

But as a true friend, Jesus did not only come to eat with them, but also to know their conditions, how are they? Kuwentuhan at kumustahan.  This is the last day they see each other, for he is going to Jerusalem, to his death.  “The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. . .’” (Luke 10: 41).  His time is limited and running out short.  He wanted to spend the last remaining days of his life to his close friends.  If he was left alone in the “sala” while his close friends were busy preparing and making food for him, how can he enjoy their company?  Jesus also showed his love to Martha when he repeated saying her name.  Thus, he said to Martha that she was anxious and worried about unnecessary things, especially the food for the visitors and guests.  Here he is, their close and intimate friend who only needs their quality time, their presence and listening ears, heart and mind towards him, which he found to Mary.

What Mary did was to be with Jesus, sat at his feet and listened to his words.  “. . . ‘Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her’.” (Luke 10: 42).  She spent quality time to Jesus.  She listened to his words.  Jesus said that Mary has chosen the better part of friendship, sitting, listening and talking.to learn the good news from a friend, a truly and special friend. That’s the way she loves Jesus.  Both sisters, Martha and Mary, showed their love to Jesus.  Martha’s love is shown in her work and Mary’s love is shown in her sitting and listening to Jesus’ words.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

July 14, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 10-14

Psalm: 69 “Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.”

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 15-20

Gospel reading according to Luke 10: 25-37

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Homily:

One of those sitting in the group and who were listening to Jesus teaching on eternal life was a scribe.   “There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, ‘Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Luke 10: 25).  He cannot prolong the discourse of Jesus any longer.  He would like to bat in to show his knowledge on the topic discussed by Jesus.  Aside from his all-knowing tendency and proud heart, he really wanted to know who this Jesus was so he can discredit him.  Was he a true prophet, a teacher and an expert of the Law like him?  Where did he get this knowledge, or who gave this talent to him, for he was so good, more than expert of the Law and the Prophets?  He cannot defeat him, so he tried to test his capacity, his knowledge, his understanding of the Law and the Prophets.  He asked an ethical question, a moral question about inheriting eternal life.  We, too, would like to know how to have eternal life, or to go to eternal life, or what is eternal life, a question as old as the created world and all that it contained, which this scribe, a scholar of the Law, made easy for us by asking Jesus this eternal question on life.

Jesus knew who was asking, and he knew the intention of the scholar of the Law, that he was being tested as a teacher but he took it as an opportunity to preach to other listeners (maybe to other scribes present there also) and to his disciples.  As a true teacher, he put an answer according to what condition, or status, or occupation of the one asking question.  “Jesus said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How do you read it?’” (Luke 10: 26).  As a true teacher, Jesus also asked question that was familiar to the scribe, about the written Law of Moses.  What the Law of Moses the scribe knew with regards to the eternal life, of which the scribe perfectly answered.  “He said in reply, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself’’.” (Luke 10: 27).  The scholar of the Law quoted the Books of Moses, from the Deuteronomy which talks about the love of God, “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind” (Deut. 6: 4), and Leviticus which talks about love of neighbor as to oneself, “and your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19: 18).  These two cover the whole Law and the Prophets, but the Jews in general and the scribes in particular only made these two by lip service and memorization.  The scribes and all Jews were so familiar with these commandments for from childhood to adulthood, they were taught these in their homes, in the synagogues, in schools, and in the Temple, and in everyday of their lives. They are very familiar with these commandments.  They knew it by heart.

What was lacking is in doing, in action, which Jesus gave emphasis.. “He replied to him, ‘You have answered correctly, do this and you will live” (Luke 10: 28).  He taught the scribe not only to memorize it but to do something about it in order to live eternal life. “Sobra sa salita, kulang sa gawa,” more talks, less action.  Jesus wants us to do the opposite, more actions/works, less talk, and “do this.” 

Maybe the ego of that scribe was touched (nahipo, nasaling, tinamaan), affected, upset, and he felt hurt for he was put to shame; so he would like to get even (makaganti) to Jesus, for he and the rest of the scribes were experts of the Books of Moses, especially the Law (Torah) and they alone are holy (sila lang ang banal at wala ng iba), righteous and obedient to God’s laws (?) (or men’s law). “But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” (Luke 10: 29). Maybe he was blushed when he asked Jesus about neighbor.  Another saying to think about by us.  The scribe made this question for us – who is/are my neighbors? Or we can ask, what is a neighbor to neighbors? And how to become a neighbor to neighbors?  These require again ethical answers or moral actions.

A wonderful parable was given by Jesus in explaining and applying on how to become a neighbor to others.  He gave and taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  “Jesus replied, ‘A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.  They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.  A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.  But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight.  He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.  Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.  The next day he took two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him.  If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back’.’” (Luke 10: 30-36).  

I see also in this parable a similar incident happened last June 9, when the Chinese militia vessel that Duterte called them “friends” rammed our Filipino fishermen’s boat, and afterwards they left behind our Filipino fishermen drowning in the Recto Bank, fortunately there was a Vietnamese boat (the good Samaritans) that rescued our Filipino fishermen.

In this parable Jesus used two kinds of Jews, the first ones were the righteous, holy servants in the Temple – the Priest and Levite, and the other was the Samaritan.  On the one hand, the priests and levites washed clean their hands from any spotted dirt before and after they perform their tasks in the Temple as one reason for avoiding the man lying half dead, for they were afraid that they might stain their hands if they touched especially a dead corpse; in that case they cannot perform their functions for a week or so, thus when they saw the presumed dead man lying on the street going to Jericho, though they were finished their obligations in the Temple, for they were going also to Jericho from Jerusalem, meaning they came from Jerusalem as priest and levite who received and offered from Jewish people sacrifices and purification for their sins and the sins of many.  This indicated that maybe they performed already their functions as priest and the other as levite, when they passed by a half-dead, naked and wounded man who fell on the hands of the robbers. Another reason why they just passed on the opposite side and did not touch the man was because they were afraid that this man, with other companions hiding, was pretending dead but he and the others were intended to rob any who pass along that road.  And another reason, if the man was truly dead, they did not like to be disturbed and involved themselves in that incident.  “Wala silang pakialam.”

On the other hand, here came also another Jew, but a Samaritan Jew, one who was despised by his brother Jews for he inter-married with a gentile, worshiping pagan gods and True God, with their own Temple in Gerizim, called half-Jew, impure, and all curses against the Samaritans.  But this hated Samaritan, when he saw the half-dead, naked and wounded man, he did not think that this man was a Jew, one of their enemies, should receive his hatred and retaliation for making them outcasts in the Jewish community that’s why they cannot worship in Jerusalem Temple, but instead he saw a man, a human being who needed immediate care/first aide, whom he can help him survive, a man who needed support and assistance.  He was not afraid to extend his hands to that victim; that he did not think that he will be contaminated when he touches the half-dead man and put him in his lap to reach and clean the wounds.  Rather, he dressed up the wound after pouring him oil and wine.  Afterward, he took him to inn, and for few days he took care and waited on him, and before he left he gave enough money to the innkeeper and he promised that he will repay him for the extra expenses he incurred when he comes back.  He was not afraid to spend much money and effort in helping this victim until he recovers. 

  

Jesus concluded his parable by showing not who my neighbor is but how to become a neighbor to others, not only in loving God and neighbors in words but in deed. “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?  He answered, ‘The one who treated him with mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise’.” (Luke 10: 37).  The Samaritan, or any man and woman, did what he is supposed to do, not because of religion and beliefs, not of race or tongue or nation, and not because of culture, but because we love God and our neighbors as we love ourselves.  Our neighbors are extensions of ourselves.  When we do good to others, we do it to ourselves.  We also benefited of what we have done good to others.    Therefore, do the same what the good Samaritan did.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

July 7, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 66: 10-14c

Psalm: 66 “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.”

Second Reading: Galatians 6: 14-18

Gospel reading according to Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20

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Homily:

From among many followers of Jesus, he has chosen seventy-two disciples, to be sent two-by-two to the different places he will visit in the near future.  “At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit” (Luke 10: 1).  Aside from the twelve Apostles, he chose seventy-two other disciples to be sent ahead of him.  Before he goes to the different places he intended to visit, he is sending first his emissaries, messengers, delegates to prepare the people (who are many and in need) in those places or communities, to settle of the meeting places, etc., and to announce the coming of the Reign-Kingdom of God.

Before he sent them, he gave instructions to them.  “He said to them, ‘The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few, so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest’.” (Luke 10: 2). Many people need guidance, support, good leaders to help them to be directed the right way of life, people who will remind them of their duties and responsibilities, people who will lead them to God and to his commandments, and other needs.  And they are so many, but very few are truly working for them to alleviate their lives from misery and desolation.  Even the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, priests (Levites), and the whole Sanhedrin who are supposedly and expected to help them were not leading to perform their tasks well towards these people. Jesus told these seventy-two disciples to pray first to the Master of the Harvest, the God who provides all our needs, to help them send to these people as his workers and accept them as messengers and agents of change for the abundant harvest – which is His people.

He told them also, as strangers in the places they are about to go, that they do not know or familiar with the places and people, they are sent like lambs (“maamong tupa”) to the dens of wild and vicious wolves (“mabangis na asong gubat”). “’Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like a lambs among wolves’.” (Luke 10: 3).  Jesus was telling those disciples to be sent that they cannot expect good, kind, gentle people on their way but most probably they can find people who are hard, strong and brutal personality, and intimidating, that they might be killed on their journey in bringing with them Jesus’ message. 

He required his disciples to bring nothing in their journey, for these become hindrance in bringing good news to people they will meet. “’Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way’.” (Luke 10: 4). No money bag, no sack, no sandals, no greetings of people (familiar or not) along the way are requirements of good missionaries, evangelists, preachers, pastors, ministers, and disciples for they are free to move, without fear whether their money or provisions will be stolen or not, lost or not, taken or not.  They can move fast, too.

He also reminded his disciples to show respect too to those people who will accept them.  Let them greet with a kiss of peace. “’Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household’.’” (Luke 10: 5).  They have to show that they bring peace and only peace they can offer in exchange of the generosity of their sponsors and/or benefactors who will accept them into their houses.  He guaranteed that their peace will reciprocate and respond/return with peace. “’If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you’.” (Luke 10: 6).  If they give peace to the people they meet and stay, these people will also receive peace; but, if they show peace and give peace with no respond or reciprocate with peace their greeting of peace rebound to them.

He also said that there is no need to move from one house to another, just stay in one house.  If they go out to proclaim the good news (in the morning, for example), they should return on the same house (in the evening).  “’Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.  Do not move about from one house to another’.” (Luke 10: 8).  In that house, whatever is served, they must accept, eat and drink.  And, “’Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you’.’” (Luke 10: 8-9). Most probably, even the neighbors of the house they are staying will offer whatever they have to augment the needs of the disciples, for they deserve recompense for the work they do in that community, like for example curing the sick, leading the lost to the right path, and even proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God that is at hand, on the one hand..

On the other hand, Jesus said to his disciples that in case that town or village or community does not accept them and driven them away, they should shake off all that clings to them of that place. “’Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.’  Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand’.” (Luke 10: 10-11).  This only shows that they have no connection with them and with Jesus who will be apparently visiting them.  By removing even the particles of dust that cling to their feet or sandals demonstrates no relationship to Jesus and to the One who sent him.  Jesus even related what will happen to that place that does not accept his messengers (disciples) to Sodom (and Gomorra).  “’I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town’.” (Luke 10: 12).  In Sodom, they accepted their guests (the Angels of God) but committed sins of malice and desire received punishment of fire with Sulphur and brimstones from heaven, yet the place where disciples were not accepted will be punished more than Sodom (and Gomorra) because they did not receive the messengers of Jesus.  

After a week (or month) or two, as if they all received simultaneous announcement to go and return to where Jesus was, they arrived two-by-two from different places together.  They came happy and rejoicing, as if they came from a party.  When each group has back they have something to tell.  “The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name’.” (Luke 10: 17). They gave and shared different reports; some were even amazed of what they had done, like driving out demons by uttering Jesus’ name, curing sickness, etc., as part of the coming of God’s Kingdom.  Jesus told his disciples that he saw Satan and his cohorts (demons) defeated. “Jesus said, ‘I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky’.” (Luke 10: 18).  Because of what had happened, that the disciples conquered demons by subjecting them to Jesus, he observed Satan’s kingdom has fallen into ruin, and Satan like lighting is falling from the sky.

Jesus also revealed to the severity-two that before they left for mission he has shared and given each one of them his power and authority in performing their apostolate to the people they meet and to the places they go, to guarantee the effectivity of their ministry to the people..  “’Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you’.” (Luke 10: 19). He shared the power to his disciples tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy.  Nothing will defeat them or harm them.

But above all, he revealed to them the highest and most important thing to celebrate.  “’Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven’.” (Luke 10: 20).  Our names be written in the Book of Life in Heaven is the most important than the miracles we do, the preaching we teach, the ministry we perform, and the apostolate we share to others here on earth.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

June 30, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: 1 King 19: 16b, 19-21

Psalm: 16 “You are my inheritance, O Lord.”

Second Reading: Galatians 5: 1, 13-18

Gospel reading according to Luke 9: 51-62

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Homily:

Jesus accepted his fate, and he was ready to offer his life for the ransom of many.  So, he decided to go to his final destination, Jerusalem.  “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, . . .” (Luke 9: 51).   Jesus is on the way for our salvation.  For, in Jerusalem, he will fulfill what God, his Father, planned long time ago.  In Jerusalem, he will offer himself by facing rejection from the elders and leaders in the Temple, suffer his passion, and put to death by crucifying him on the cross, but on the third day he will rise from the dead.

Though the disciples did not know what will happen to Jesus in Jerusalem, still they followed and obeyed him whom he was sent.  “. . . and he sent messengers ahead of him” (Luke 9: 52). They went ahead and pronounced the passing of Jesus.  Since it takes days to arrive in Jerusalem, he needed a stop-over where he and his disciples can stay and rest.  They told those people and towns and villages they went through that Jesus is coming and passing to their places to go to Jerusalem.  This is also their opportunity to see Jesus, and maybe to hear from him good news and healing for their sicknesses and diseases, especially for those who were possessed by the evil spirits.       

One of the places they went to announce and prepare the coming of Jesus was Samaria (northern part of Israel).  The Samaritans were called by the Jewish people (in the south of Israel) as half-Jews or impure Jews for they intermarried with pagans and did not go to Jerusalem Temple to worship but rather they built they own Temple in Gerizim.  So the Jews in the south (Judea) and the Jews in the north (Samaria) have a long history of dissension and opposition.  “On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem” (Luke 9: 51-53).  The Samaritans knew Jesus, a truly Jew, a prophet and good teacher, miracle worker, and preacher.  They also believed in him as the Messiah whom God sent for all.  They also knew that Jesus had many enemies in the Temple in Jerusalem.  But when they heard from the messengers that Jesus is going to Jerusalem, they had a second thought if they will accept Jesus in their village or not.  They have no business (“walang pakialam”) with the Judean people of the south.  The Samaritans also were afraid that something might happen to Jesus if he goes to Jerusalem. So, the Samaritans decided not to allow Jesus and his companions to pass in their village, as if they were holding up Jesus and as if they were not allowing Jesus to go to the den of his enemies, to avoid suffering and death.   

The two brothers, James and John who were with Jesus, who did not know what’s really going on, only heard the reports of the messengers.  They became indignant against the attitude of the Samaritans.  “When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’” (Luke 9: 54).  The two brothers, also called “sons of thunder,” showed their pride and violent reactions.  They would like to retaliate against the Samaritans for not accepting their presence in their community. They would like to destroy and consume the Samaritan village by calling down fire and brimstone from heaven, a total extinction and annihilation.  “Jesus turned and rebuked them . . .” (Luke 9: 55).  When Jesus heard what the two brothers were suggesting, he became sensitive to the situation with urgent correction and rebuked, for what they were thinking against the Samaritans was against his teaching of humility, mercy and compassion, understanding, forgiveness and love.  We can put it into our present context the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation, and human fraternities of brotherhood and sisterhood. Nowadays, the movement for reconciliation and dialogue to other religions in the world, e.g., Islam, Judaism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and animism, is alive and animated.   There is a need of understanding of one’s faith and acceptance to another’s culture and beliefs; otherwise peace and justice will not happen and attain but rather religious wars continue.  “. . . and they journeyed to another village” (Luke 9: 56). And to avoid conflict with the Samaritans, Jesus decided to use another road/route for Jerusalem.

Jesus calls anyone (us) whom he thinks and feels can help him to propagate the Reign-Kingdom of God and repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  But he also demands our response.      

Jesus called disciples to follow him.  To the first one who responded to his call, while they continued their journey to Jerusalem, an unnamed disciple who volunteered in answering his call with eagerness and excitement, and with full conviction, “As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’  Jesus answered him, ‘Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Luke 9: 57-58). He has confidence to Jesus, but Jesus guaranteed him not a smooth, easy life rather unassured and unsecured life, as he said to him, “. . . the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”  He told him the reality of his life and ministry.  He will live a poor, humble, difficult life when he followed him.  If Jesus goes to Jerusalem, which means death on the cross, that disciple too will follow wherever he goes.  

To the second unknown disciple whom he called, but responded with reservation.  “And to another he said, ‘Follow me.’  But he replied, ‘Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’  But he answered him ‘Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God”(Luke 9: 59-60).  He wanted to wait until his father’s death before he followed Jesus.  It was presumed that he has many brothers and sisters and even relatives (dead to sin) who can take care of his father until he died. The urgency of proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God cannot wait.

To the third unnamed disciple, who wanted to go back home to his family first to bid farewell, though he already proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God.  “And another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.’ To him Jesus said, ‘No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 61-62). He who follows him cannot look back to his former (sinful) life, to his belongings, to his loved ones, family, and friends while he does proclaiming the Reign-Kingdom of God.  With this, he has divided heart and mind; he cannot perform well the task given to him which demanded full attention and devotion.