Sunday Reflection

The Constitutions of the Congregation of the Resurrection contain a number of articles on the vow of poverty.  Article 21, for instance, reminds Resurrectionists that through their vow of poverty, they are called to detach themselves from material things so that they can more totally depend upon Christ and more fully imitate him.  Our gospel introduces a similar challenge for the disciples and, indeed, for all Christians.  Simon and his brother Andrew, and James and his brother John, leave their families and their boats and follow Jesus.  Their actions raise a question for us today: what are we willing to leave behind to follow Jesus?

One of the habits in Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is “to put first things first.”  In writing this, Covey asks his readers to consider what the most important thing in their personal lives is and what the most important thing in their professional lives is.  He wonders what we must do in order to really put these “first things” first.  In other words, what do we have to change or leave behind in order to actually LIVE what we BELIEVE and SAY?  Surely, most of us value deeply our relationship with God, and with our families and friends.  But, what do we need to change or leave behind in order to honor what we value?  In the case of our relationship with God, it might be that we have to leave behind the hectic nature of a given day so that we can spend time with God.  In the case of our relationship with family and friends, it might be that we have to leave behind the need to be right, or to have the last word, to fail to forgive, or to always look good in front of others.

Similarly, most of want to excel at our jobs or school.  But, what do we need to change or leave behind in order to honor what we value?  Do we need to be more conscientious of our responsibilities, honest in our dealings with customers, or kind in our relationship with fellow workers?  In each of these ways, we leave behind something in order to embrace a more positive future in our work or school, living our vocation with more integrity.

Frequently in our world, we are encouraged to think that “leaving something behind” is a path to diminishment.  However, the example of the disciples reminds us that while they did leave good things behind, they opened themselves to a possibility of life that they could not have imagined at this moment in their lives.  As we contemplate their example, we hope that God will continue to work great things in us as we leave behind old ways that prevent us from being the people whom God has called. 

 

 

Jim Donohue.