Luke 9:57-62
As Jesus and his disciples 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.”
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.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Happy Wednesday everyone! Today’s Gospel makes a powerful demand on our lives. “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
In a series of sermons, Saint John Paul II distinguished between “relative importance” and “absolute importance” in our lives. Things like taking a test, playing a game, or going to work hold relative importance—they matter depending on our circumstances and stage of life. However, absolute importance is reserved for matters of God: our salvation and obedience to His commandments.
Today’s Gospel echoes this idea, urging us to place things in their proper order—God first, then the world. When Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their dead,” He wasn’t being insensitive. He was emphasizing that His presence and mission are of absolute importance. It’s easy to elevate things of relative importance—like attending a ballgame or dining with family—above God. But when we prioritize these over our relationship with Him, our lives can become unbalanced.
We are called to place God at the center of our lives and keep lesser things in their proper place. This isn’t always easy. Christ’s own life shows us that following God’s call can be challenging, but as our Creator, He knows what we need. As Saint Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Reflect today: What are you placing between yourself and Jesus? What things of relative importance are you treating as absolute? Let’s strive to put God first and align our lives with His purpose.