Follow Me
If you were asked if you are a follower of Christ, your answer almost certainly would be yes. On the other hand, how would you answer that question if responding with the word “yes” led to your immediate death? The question is no longer simple or easy. We like to consider ourselves as Christians, as followers of Christ, but very few of us have reflected on what it means to be a follower of Christ. Throughout our lives, it has been relatively easy to consider ourselves as Christians because it is socially acceptable. If the world changes, however (and it appears that this might be a real possibility), will we move away from Christ with the rest of the world or will we firmly stand by our original answer?
Following Christ is not merely adhering to his earthly teachings or using him as an example for living. To follow Christ is to emulate him in his most definitive identity - as someone who loves. Love means sacrificing your own desires for the good of others, and Christ took upon himself the ultimate expression of love in his death. Today’s Gospel reveals to us exactly what it means to follow him. Christ forgives Peter and allows Peter to turn from his original threefold rejection of Christ by affirming three times his willingness to obey Christ’s directives. Immediately after this, Christ clearly explains to Peter that, by being a follower of Christ and the mission of his Church, he will be led where he does not want to go. The Gospel writer John explains to us that Jesus was referring to the fact that Peter would be put to death just as Christ was put to death. This is what makes a true Christian and a true follower of Christ because Jesus immediately attaches onto this warning the directive: “follow me.” You have accepted the teachings of Christ as the disciples first did. You have recognized the divinity of Christ just as Peter did during Jesus’ public ministry. You have witnessed the resurrected Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist and participate in this resurrection through its reception. Are you ready now to actually follow Christ in the way he teaches us what it means to be a follower?
If you are unsure how to apply this in your daily life, the simplest answer would be to adhere to Christ’s instruction to pick up your cross. We experience daily difficulties that give us the opportunity to give it back to Christ. However, there may come a time when you are faced with the situation that Jesus warns Peter about. If you are ever graced with the opportunity to give back to Christ what he did for you through martyrdom, learn from the example of the great saints who have been given that opportunity and who lovingly accepted the call to die for their faith. In martyrdom, just like Peter and Paul embraced at the end of their lives, we are offered the chance to perfectly imitate the essence of Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate expression of love. It is what Christ did for all of us, and if we want to be followers of him, we must focus entirely on loving others in the way he loved us. For some, this means martyrdom. But for the vast majority of us, it means simply going out and serving our neighbors just as Christ did during his public ministry. It means performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, it means involving yourself in the community of the Church. Very simply, the most perfect expression of love is to obey Christ’s command: follow him.
Today's Readings:
