Conditions to Follow Jesus II
Listen and Practice
By Abba Jimmy (Theoloscience)
Each of us has different needs. Those who have everything need nothing. However, we need to hear what the teacher said: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15, esv)
We are citizens of culture. Here we are, you and me. The new day dawns and advances until night falls. Then, in the morning, we get up (although not all of us), and we get moving. Many of us like coffee, and many do not. Some of those who live in the cities go to the gym to tone their body. Those who live in the countryside have a different experience. They have closer contact with the earth, the trees, the wind, and the animals — in a word, they have a more intimate relationship with nature.
Jesus used metaphors to convey his teaching.
For example, in Luke 6:43–49, we read this:
“Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built ahouse on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediatelyit fell, and the ruin of that house was great”
Question: Who likes to be buffeted by winds and storms? I think no one. And yet, the winds, the rains, and the storms appear suddenly. Many times, we escape from storms, practicing evasion through idols. We use different types of idols to mitigate the impact of hurricanes in our lives.
We can all name several idols; idols currently camouflage themselves to avoid detection. They disguise themselves as something good, so we don’t let our conscience bother us while using them. (Here you can read I Cor 10:14–22).
However, all of us are the workmanship of the Creator’s hands. Yes, God created us. Therefore, he knows us very well. And God communicates with us through his Word. God tells us what to do so as not to make mistakes in life. In addition to being our Creator, we know God is also our Father. The best Father we can have. He gives us advice, and if we listen to him and put his advice into practice, then we will be building our house, that is, our life, on solid foundations.
In this part of the Gospel (Luke 6:43–49), we see two ways of living and building our house: Building on firm rock and building on sand. The first form resists the ravages of storms; the second falls with a crash when the winds, rain, and storms hit it.
So, the teacher tells us two formulas to build our projects upon the solid rock with solid foundations. Then, he tells us to listen to my Word and put it into practice.
In life, everyone, and without exception, young people and adults experience different storms with different intensities: winds, rains, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
All of us living in the year 2022 share the air, the earth, and the sky. Many different ideologies confront us in our society. But we are also generators of ideas.
Many of us will ask ourselves this question: How can I practice what Jesus tells us in his Word? And what is the actual effect that this practice will have on my life? Here is what Jesus says:
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.(Luke 6:47–48).
Here are seven conditions to put into practice the Word of Jesus
First condition: I must recognize that Jesus has the authority to communicate everything He has seen and knows about his Father.
Second condition: I must believe and trust that everything Jesus preaches is true.
Third condition: When reading and studying the Word of God, I must pay attention to the verbs and the orders that Jesus gives. I can ask myself: What is the will of Jesus in this matter, in this other, in this situation, in this decision that I must make? In a word, I am bound to obey Jesus.
Fourth condition: Give priority to Jesus and his Word in my life. For example, I must study the Word of God together with other brothers in a community so as not to walk alone as a disciple.
Fifth condition: I must strive to understand Jesus’ message correctly to avoid misinterpretation. I must not forget that the Gospel is dynamic and becomes alive in Christians who are faithful in a community.
Sixth condition: I must commit myself to Jesus for life and not just for a season. For example, if I am young, I must remain and persevere in the church, especially after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Jesus needs young people inside and outside the church to transform the world.
Seventh condition: I must get involved in apostolates, missionary disciple programs, ministries, pastoral activities, leadership, and administration in the church. In short, I must put my talents into the community’s service.
