Who is he we are his disciples?

 

Every disciple grows to be like his teacher.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Saturday of 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, July 15th, 2023
Texts: Genesis 49:29-33; 50:15-26a; Ps 105:1-4.6-7; Matthew 10:24-33

There is a question that we need to ask ourselves today: Who is he we are his disciples? Every disciple grows to be like his teacher. In the words of Jesus: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master." We are disciples of whom we have his likeness. If we are of Christ we will have His likeness. 

The likeness Jesus talked about is not in physical appearance but in existential reality. In His words: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household." If we truly live like Christ, we cannot avoid His existential reality; we share the same lot with Him. Our existential reality connects us with Christ. In the words of St. Peter: "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God rests upon you" (1 Pet. 4:14).

We learn from Jacob and Joseph not to forget our common source

We see in today’s first readings the need to connect with our common source, where we belong, whom we belong. Jacob charged his sons thus: “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite". We read about Joseph thus: "Then Joseph took an oath of the sons of Israel, saying, 'God will visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.'” We learn from Jacob and Joseph not to forget our common source.

A saying goes thus: "A river runs dry when it forgets its source". When we are connected with our source, we are able to maintain our identity and understand our existential reality. Being Christians we should not forget that we share in Christ’s existential reality- passion, death and resurrection. We will experience times of passion, death, resurrection and glory. 

Prayer

Lord God, we declare today that we are Your disciples, grant that we may live to be like You. Grant, O Lord, that we may live the life in fidelity to You. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke