Homily 323 – The Desire to See Jesus – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Imagine someone you know is interested in learning what Christianity is really all about. What would you tell them? What’s the core message? Probably most of us could think of some attractive good thing to share. However, in today’s Gospel, we see the message Jesus shared with the crowds that were following him. “If you want to follow me, you have to be willing to sell all your possessions, hate your family, and ultimately be tortured to death…. Anyone still interested?” It’s not the most catching message for attracting followers. Many crowds followed Jesus because of the miracles he was performing. Yet, when it comes to actually being his disciples, it takes a lot more than casual interest. He likens it to building a tower. Before you even start, you better be sure you’re willing to go all the way and see it through to completion. Don’t say you want to follow Jesus unless you’re really in. You have to really want it, and it’s not going to be easy.

While it is true that being a disciple of Jesus is the path to surest happiness in this life and in the world to come, it’s not something superficial that you just get as some kind of signing bonus for beginning Christian. It takes time. You have to have two things to arrive at the true joy of Christian discipleship: First, you have to desire it. Secondly, you have to be willing to do the difficult things God asks. There is perhaps no one who did these two things better than Mother Teresa, now St. Teresa of Calcutta. She loved Jesus with a passionate desire of her whole life and was willing to do anything to see Jesus, including living her life in the slums of Calcutta. In today’s homily, I share one of my favorite Mother Teresa stories. Do you want to see Jesus? Have a listen and see how one person had that wish come true.