God speaks to us every day, and sometimes, we listen. Do you ever hear the voice of Jesus whispering in your ear?  Does he ever make demands of you the same way he made demands of his disciples more than 2000 years ago?

And to another he said, “Follow me.”

Today, Luke’s gospel is about the demands of discipleship. Jesus may seem harsh as he demands that his followers give up their own needs as well as those of friends and family.  However, Jesus is only asking of them what he asks of himself.  His unconditional commitment to God’s saving work will demand his own life.  While Jesus knows this, his followers can never fully understand.

Last week in Kenya, we met Dr. David D’Souza, a medical doctor from Toronto specializing in infectious diseases who will be volunteering at Mutomo Mission Hospital in just a few months.  A man of strong faith, he described his journey to volunteering as a true calling.  Dr. David applied to medical school three times before he was accepted.  He explained, “I couldn’t give up. Not being a doctor was never an option for me. I’ve wanted to help cure the sick and serve the poor since I was a teenager.”  Mutomo is about four hours outside of Nairobi and it’s one of the driest, poorest, most remote communities in the world, but Dr. David was full of joy, smiles and enthusiasm.  He believes that it’s where God needs him to be.

Jesus cautions against a rush into discipleship because the demands come at a great cost.  Dr. David will soon sacrifice friends, family, and personal health and comfort as he begins a year of service with poor women and children who desperately need his care.  How many people do you know who can make Jesus and his mission central to their lives, and then go forward without looking back?  Modern disciples like these are truly ready for the Kingdom of God.

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*Today’s reflection in inspired by and adapted from Loyola Press Sunday Connection.

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