October 1, 2014, Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Job 9: 1-12, 14-16; Ps 88; Lk 9:57-62
As many of you know, last year the
University of Dayton Mens Basketball Team played very well in the
NCAA Tournament, making it to the Elite Eight. For two weeks, it's
all Sean and I talked about. Some placed signs (I 'heart' UD) by
their doors.
UD made national headlines. Fans traveled all over the
country to watch them play. But, their tournament success didn't
reflect the whole season. In the middle of the season, the team was
losing. They were disorganized and not playing well. Fans were
losing confidence and getting discouraged. But, then, something
happened. The team had a change of attitude which was described in
UD Magazine as a “'True Team' dedication, when starting
pride took a backseat to an all-in enthusiasm and unwavering
faith in one another.” In the end, this “all-in” attitude was
important for their success. This all-in attitude helped to turn
things around.
So, what does UD basketball have to do
with the path of discipleship? In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus (our
coach) invite us (the team) to this same dedication and “all-in”
attitude. He says that disciples will have no place to rest, “Let
the dead bury the dead,” and there is no time to say farewell to
your family. Jesus isn't being mean or unrealistic. No. He is
telling us what it means to be a disciple. It requires giving your
whole self to the Reign of God. It means to make the Reign of God
the sole focus of your life. It needs dedication and an “all-in”
determination. There is no place for a half-disciple. (Fr.
Chaminade liked to use this phrase when speaking about the religious
of his foundation – there was was no place for a “half-religious.”)
Jesus calls us to follow him with our whole hearts and minds and
bodies – our whole self. We must be “all-in.” This is the
path of discipleship.
We see this “all-in” attitude in
the person of Job. All is taken away from him. His life is totally
destroyed, but he doesn't give up. He remains totally dedicated to
God. He acknowledges God as all-wise, all-powerful, always present.
God is in control of Job's life because God is God. Job continues to
trust in God against insurmountable odds. The journalist might
describe Job as having “true dedication, when self interests took a
backseat to an all-in enthusiasm and unwavering faith in God.” Job
gave literally everything he had to God. Job was “all-in.”
We also see this in St. Theresa of
Lisieux whom the church remembers today. At a young age, all she
wanted to do was to dedicate her life to God as a Carmelite nun,
going so far as to petition the Pope to let her join when she was
only 15. Through her “little way” and with great simplicity, she
trusted in God. Even in the midst of several dark nights, she
remained faithful to God. At the end of her life, she offered her
terrible sufferings from tuberculosis to God for the salvation of the
world. She, like Job, was totally dedicated to her mission. She was
“all-in.”
Dear friends, discipleship requires
that we give our all, that we give all of our selves to the path and
mission of Jesus, that we are “all-in”. It is not easy. It can
be quite difficult. But it is what Jesus asks of us, and it is the
path that will lead us to new life and freedom. And so today, you
are left to answer for yourself: Will you follow Jesus with your
whole heart and being? Will you be “all-in?”
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