Following Him Radically

Then he said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ // Luke 9:20

“So, religion is really important to you and your husband?” he asked. We had just met this young man at a colleague’s goodbye party. Somehow I landed myself in a potentially polemic conversation. I had no idea where this man stood in terms of faith. Do I keep it light, I wondered, and just say, “Yes” then move onto the next topic? I couldn’t.

So I responded vaguely, hoping to stir his interest and keep him open, “Yes, it is very important to us. I was raised Catholic, but that is not why I am Catholic now.” He wanted to know more, and so I was able to share a little of my story. I told him about the day when I began to follow the Lord not because of what “the crowds” were saying about Him (Luke 9:18). I began to live my life for Him when I discovered Who He was for me.

There comes a moment in our lives, sister, perhaps even multiple moments, when we have to give an answer to this same question Jesus asked of the disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20). Is He our Savior, our Lord, our everything? Or do we still see Him as the crowds see Him: only as a prophet among other prophets, as a nice man with teachings of kindness, as a teacher but not of a definitive kind?

Your answer and my answer to this question will determine how we live. Do we follow Him radically? Or do we simply forge our own path and ask Christ to work a wonder for us here and there whenever we need Him to? Sister, we are invited today to know the Lord more fully. His immense love for us, His identity and the character of His Heart, will transform and transfix us.

When we discover Him truly, we cannot help but say, with Padre Pio, whose feast we celebrate today, “I live for Jesus Christ, I live for His glory, I live to serve Him, I live to love Him” (source).

His Heart will transform us. // Rocio HermesClick to tweet

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