Many people call themselves Christians or claim to be followers of Christ. But are these people really following Christ? Or are they merely Christians in name only? Are we following and practicing Jesus’ teachings, or are we only picking and choosing what suits us or what is convenient to us? It is easy to call ourselves Christians, but it is a different matter altogether to remain faithful in following and practising His teachings, not just a portion or a part of His teachings which appeal to us, but all that He has taught us, even those parts which are difficult or challenging to observe. What exactly does Jesus expect of us then?
In today’s Gospel, we read: “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’
Being a follower of Christ basically means we are willing to renounce ourselves, renounce our old ways, our pride, our ego and our prejudices, and be willing to put on new ways in Christ. It means we are to follow the law of love which sums up what Christ has taught us; not just loving God, but loving neighbour as well. Have we truly been faithful disciples of Christ in word and deed?