Wednesday, June 30, 2021

 

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Genesis 21:5.8-20a; Matthew 8:28-34)

Even Pope Francis cites the Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship. It treats of the difficulties Christians are called to bear.  Of course, the benefits of discipleship more than outweigh its burdens.  Nevertheless, Christians must be ready pay a price when they commit themselves to Christ. Today’s gospel tells of people unwilling to do that. 

Jesus has just cleared the area of the Gadarenes of a threat.  He cast out the demons moving two men to menace the populace.  Jesus allowed the demons to enter a herd of swine that went berserk and plunged into the sea.  The swine were lost, and the town that much impoverished.  The townspeople react to the feat by asking Jesus to leave their territory.  Instead of following such a powerful man as Jesus, they want to rid themselves of him.  They are not willing even to consider the “cost of discipleship.”

We all have to bear suffering, but no one has to do it alone.  We can turn to Jesus for help.  He will make some demands on us which are included in the “cost of discipleship.”  But we should not doubt that we will accrue more happiness with his support.

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