Deterrents

Question: “How was the Roman Empire cut in half?”

Answer: “With a pair of Caesars!”

* * *

In today’s Gospel (Lk. 9, 51-62), Jesus teaches us that our discipleship must not be cut or damaged by fears or by attachments. Our journey as disciples will be marked with rejection, opposition, and even persecution. Our journey as disciples must not be hampered or burdened because of our attachment to things or to people. Our fears and our attachments are the deterrents to true discipleship.

* * *

Have you ever been persecuted because of your faith in Jesus? Have you ever been talked about or laughed at because of your religious convictions? Then blessed are you! Consider it a privilege to be able to witness and stand for your God. May the Lord help us overcome our fears and wipe away our tears, we who serve Him with sincere hearts.

* * *

Neither fear nor favor should silence us or keep us from truly serving God. As Christians, we have a prophetic role to proclaim God’s word in and out of season. It has been noted that the words “Be not afraid”

appears in the Bible more than 365 times. Let us not be afraid or intimidated. Personalities around us come and go, but God and God’s word remain.

* * *

Have you ever experienced driving with your hand brake on? It is an awful experience! This is what happens to those who follow the Lord and yet do not really let go. The journey will be heavy and burdensome if we are not actually free because of our attachments. Other people or mundane things can tie our hands, blind our eyes, shut our mouth, cover our ears, and even bind our feet in our journey to God’s heart. We must stay focused on Him whom we follow, and keep on going come what may.

* * *

“Let go and let God.” This is something we have to keep saying as we journey to God’s heart. This journey involves a lot of hard work, discipline and sacrifice on our part, but God is gracious and generous. Our efforts and achievements are nothing compared to His graces and blessings. Yes, let us follow our God with gratitude, humility, and joy. God loves cheerful and humble followers!

* * *

Some of the happiest people I have had the privilege to meet in our journey to God’s heart are the givers. The most miserable, and even pathetic, people I have met are the grabbers who seek and hold on to worldly possessions, attention, and fame. We still have much to learn when it comes to true giving and letting go. More often than not, it is more about I, me, myself, rather than about the Lord whom we claim to serve.

* * *

Someone once said, “Letting go of material things is difficult but not impossible if we offer it to God.” So true. People who have a sense of God, and who acknowledge “payback time” in their lives, can relate with that statement. “Game over” comes sooner than you think. Dispose, share, give. Now! Remember, your money and wealth will be used for your salvation or condemnation. When you face God at the final accounting in Heaven, the Lord will ask two questions regarding your money: “Is this dirty or good money?” and “How much did you share?”

* * *

Greggy Licaros lost his wife, Lui, some years ago, and he had a kidney transplant recently. He is a wealthy man by worldly standards, but for me, what makes him wealthy is his strong sense of God and his strong sense of legacy—to leave behind something meaningful, something that would be of help to the less fortunate. In many of our conversations, Greggy acknowledges that he is just a steward, and not the owner, of his worldly possessions. May we all be given the grace to have a stronger sense of God, a sense of mission, and a sense of legacy. And yes, a stronger sense of Heaven, our final destination.

* * *

Sharing with you this text message I received from Fr. Ric Dumas, SVD: “As we grow in wisdom and experience, our main goal in life is not happiness but Godliness; not reputation, but character; not wealth but virtue; not fame but faith; not the approval of men but the approval of God.”

* * *

Think about this: “Many serve God because of fear of hell; others serve God because of the reward of Heaven. Blessed are those who serve Him simply because of love and gratitude for His goodness and compassion.”

* * *

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, please take away whatever deterrents prevent me from truly following You. Amen.