Luke 9:57-62 NRSVue
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
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Reflection on Luke 9:57-62
Inspiration from 2025-10-01 Daily Prayer
Our faith is a personal decision and commitment we make to follow the Lord for all of our lives. When we live this with fidelity, it becomes a part of who we are. The late Fr Michael Paul Gallagher SJ wrote, ‘A faith that is not lived becomes lifeless.’ We pray for the grace of perseverance.
Further reflection
Tough words here from Jesus. Following him is no world cruise.
It is easy to settle down into the comfort of my life and forget the cost of discipleship. The decision to follow Jesus has to be made and re-made.
Sacrifice is not a fashionable word today, but Jesus doesn't apologise for the fact that it is an essential part of the life of a disciple.
Lord, you give me images and stories that carry the one message: if I am to follow you, it must be a priority in my life, not something to be fitted in between other claims and other comforts, but central in my life; and it will cost. You test the sincerity of the eager young person who made a heroic offering: /I will follow you wherever you go./ Words come so easily, but living them out for a lifetime is tough. Give me strength.
I don’t think here that Jesus is suggesting neglect of parents or those at home. In his strong way he is getting at us to remain alive to the challenges of the present moment, and to take our futures in hand. There seem to be excuses about following him, and he breaks through these with the call to depth in our following of him, and indeed to live our lives in the depth worthy of our humanity and of calling by him.