No Turning Back

"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Lk 9:62) Clearly, Jesus tells us that once we have made a commitment to him, nothing must interfere, even the most sacred and revered things like burying a father. Taking this advice word for word, rules in religious life in the past demanded this total adhesion to Jesus. The cloistered life, with nuns behind a grill, now a thing of the past, but in its day, was a vivid enforcement of this principle. How do we interpret and act on it today? Determination, sacrifice, self-discipline can keep us on track. If we say we are going to do something, we do it. When busyness keeps preventing us from praying, we force ourselves to stop and take the time for prayer, trusting that whatever was keeping us busy will eventually get done. Or when prayer itself seems dry and unyielding, un-nourishing, we don't stop praying, but continue "through the desert." The oasis will eventually show up. A Sunday, a sabbath...a perfect time to stop and reflect on how faithful we are to the "plow" God hs given us, and that we have chosen to work. Bro. Rene