Jesus’ call to discipleship is a call to a radical change in our lives so that we can come and follow him. When Jesus called me home to Rome, back in 2007, the biggest hurdle, in my mind, was my parents. As the first-born son, in our Vietnamese culture, it was my responsibility to carry on the family values and traditions and no one in our family was Catholic. I would be the first in our family - immediate or extended - to be a Catholic.
After much discernment, I did come home to Rome at the Easter Vigil, in 2008, but I did not tell my parents. Only my brother knew. I regretted not letting my parents be part of one of the most important days in my life; however, thanks be to God, I had a second chance. When I was ordained to the Order of the Permanent Diaconate, in March of 2019, not only were my parents present, but my entire family was there in the pews. I am grateful to God for giving me the courage and strength to come and follow him and not wait.
I believe this is what Jesus meant in today’s Gospel. We hear that “[another] of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, let me go first and bury my father.’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.’” A commentary on this verse explains it this way (Didache, 1274): “Discipleship means following Christ unconditionally with all of the sacrifice it may entail. Hence, Christ’s response to the one who wanted to bury his father (more precisely, to wait until his father died before he would follow Jesus) is not meant to be dismissive of the proper duty and respect owed to our parents; rather, it emphasizes that promptly responding wholeheartedly to follow Christ must take priority over all other concerns.”
The Lord God said: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you. . . To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you. . ." Had I not “come and follow” Jesus when I did and waited, out of honor and respect for my parents and our family legacy, I would have missed out on this incredible journey that God has me on as a deacon for his one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to trust him and that his plan for us is worth the sacrifices - big or small - that we would have to make in our lives to come and follow him. Jesus is inviting us to answer his call to discipleship with joy, trustingly responding to him, saying: “[Lord], I will follow you wherever you go.” A pastor once said: “Knowing God’s will is the greatest knowledge; finding God’s will is the greatest discovery; doing God’s will is the greatest achievement” (G. W. Truett). Let us boldly come and follow Jesus and lead others to him.
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