"No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

Obedience could be the hardest thing that a person could never really imagine. Oftentimes when we sing along on a mass “Kunin at tanggapin ang alay na ito. Mga biyayang nagmula sa pagpapala mo.” It’s all easy until we usually unconsciously utter “Lahat ng mga lungkot, ligaya’t pagsubok; lahat ng lakas at kahinaan ko; Inaalay ko’ng lahat buong pagkatao. Ito ay  isusunod sa’yo.” Easier said than done. 

Looking back, if we check on ourselves, have we really offered everything to God? Are all the things we do were done for the glory of God? Are the problems, big or small, offered to God? Or do we do things for our own sake then just later thank God if it turned out well? Do we make sure that the things that we do honor him—sins included? Do we surrender every burden we have to Him or do we try to make things go our way?

Do not be discouraged. This, perhaps, is the biggest challenge we Christians have: to fully be obedient to God’s call. It is indeed a challenge when we have to always remind ourselves that we are not of the Earth, while living temporarily and abiding through the ways of the Earth as well. 

But the Son of Man, our Savior, came to Earth to remind us that with Him, we can do all things. 

In today’s Gospel Jesus’ determination to do the will of God inspires us to also seek God’s will for us and fulfill it. If you think of it, when Jesus was directed to go to Jerusalem and face His crucifixion, Jesus had everything to lose. But by obeying God, He gave us redemption and this is true to us. When we carry our own crosses, He will save us.

I remember a reflection given on one Community Praise and Worship long time ago, the priest asked “Who do you think God is?” If you think that God is a forgiving God, then as a believer, be forgiving. If He is a loving God, be loving. Today God is saying BE OBEDIENT. He is inviting us to follow Him, with whatever it would take, follow Him. 

 -Iana Marie Ilaya

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