No disciple is above his Teacher

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Fourteenth Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Mt 10:24-33*

*First Reading : Is 6:1-8*

*“No disciple is above his Teacher*

*1) Jesus is our Master and Teacher*

Jesus is a great teacher. There can not be another teacher who is like Jesus, because of His divinity, divine power to work miracles and his ministry which is oriented towards liberating the fallen humanity 

Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night and acknowledged Jesus as great teacher *“Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”*

*2) We are Jesus' disciples*

All those who follow Jesus are His disciples 

All who acknowledge Jesus as great Master and Lord become his true disciples 

It is also true that we have been chosen by Jesus as His disciples 

So as His disciples we much follow the values of the Master  

*3) We are not greater than Jesus*

In today's Gospel Jesus explains this truth clearly. 

We need to understand this truth from a different perspective

*Comfortable Life* Jesus' life was never a comfortable one from the worldly or from the materialistic point of view. So, living or expecting a luxurious life, with materialistic out look goes against the spirit of the Master 

*Persecutions* Jesus had to face lot of persecutions from His own people. 

As the faithful disciples of Jesus we too are subjected to persecutions. But our persecutions are not greater than our Master 

*Challenges* Jesus had to face many challenges while proclamating the Gospel. 

We are not free from challenges of life. Challenges of health, financial challenges, family challenges, faith challenges and many more. But our challenges are not greater than our Master

*Temptations* Jesus was tempted by Satan. But he defeated the Satan by not yeilding to the temptations. 

We too are tempted by Satan on various levels. 

But one thing is sure, *God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able*

So we are not greater than our Master in this regard

*Proclamation* Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of in an effective way. 

We too are called to proclaim the kingdom of God through our life and ministry. But we can't become greater than our master in this regard 

Whatever ministry we may do, inspired by Jesus, we can't go beyond our Master's approach

*4) Great Reminder for Us*

The words of Jesus *“No disciple is above his teacher* is a great warning for us. Because some times there may be tendency to equate oneself with Jesus or to consider oneself is greater than Jesus 

Some people some time may think that they are more powerful preachers and healers, than Jesus. To such persons this is a warning message 

*5) The virtues of Humility and courage*

In the above words of Jesus, these two virtues are powerfully seen

Not to lose the courage in times of persecutions because our challenges are not greater than Jesus  and to adopt the virtue of humility when great things happen in and through us, because of Jesus 

In either cases we can't be greater than our Master

Is there a tendency in me to consider myself as great Master of certain things in life? 

Is my Ego making me greater than My Master? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*