How to understand "Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 13th Week -  Monday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 8:18-22*

*First Reading - Gn 18:16-33*

*How to understand "Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”*

*1) It is not that his Father is already dead*

When he speaks about the burial of his father, it is not that his father is dead and he has to do the necessary things for funeral 

He is speaking about the death of his father in the future. So once that is done he will come and follow Jesus 

So Jesus is not against the burial of the dead, if he has to do it immediately

*2) He may live for some more years*

Since his father is living now, no one knows how many years he will live 

It may be 10 years or 20 years or may be more 

So this person is indirectly saying, now he can't follow Jesus. Once his father dies he will follow Jesus 

Accordingly he may have to wait for 10 or 20 or more years 

So this is issues involved here when he says *Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”*

*3) The aspect of inheritance and financial security*

The person is also thinking about his father's inheritance and his share which will come from his father 

So he is more interested in the material things like property, wealth and money which he will get it from his father after his death 

So behind the death of his father there lies the greed for material things 

*4) This appears as an excuse to escape from the responsibility*

The burial of his father, appears as a simple excuse to Jesus' call for following him 

It is very clear from his gesture that he is not interested in following Jesus. Since he could not say it, he gives the excuse of the  burial of his father and tries to escape from the responsibility

*5) Misplaced priorities*

The attitude of the person clearly shows the misplaced priorities in his life 

More than the spiritual things he was after the material things, which he wanted to possess. 

This shows that his priorities  for material things and not for spiritual things 

*6) The concept of death/dead*

Let the dead bury their own dead 

Here the *dead* is applicable to those 

who are dead to the spiritual things 

Who are dead to the simplicity of life 

Who are dead to giving up everything in order to follow Jesus 

Who are dead to the sacrifice, love, commitment, service, desire for greater and heavenly things etc 

Once a person is dead to the above things, he becomes useless or like a dead person 

When a person is still alive but dead to the good things he is almost like a dead person, that is the greatest tragedy of ones life 

*7) What about my life?*

What answers do I have when Jesus tells me *Come and follow me?*

What is my attitude when the situation comes to give up everything and follow Jesus?

Do I have excuse like *Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”?*

What is my attachment to the worldly things?

As a living person have I already dead to spiritual things and kingdom values?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*