13th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 28th June 2021 — Gospel: Mt 8, 18-22
Counsel for Different Tempers
Today’s Gospel presents two sets of stories that have discipleship as their theme. We may call them, the would-be disciples, as “The Hasty Scholar” (8,19-20) and “The Hesitant Son” (8,21-22). Their actions illustrate how not to enter into deep discipleship. First, an eager scholar approaches Jesus to announce his readiness to go all the way in following Jesus; he is rejected temporarily. Second, a hesitant disciple asks Jesus’ permission to go home for a while (temporarily) to arrange for important family matters; he is forced to follow. In both cases Jesus rudely rejects the requests of people who want to be disciples. The rejections, however, reverse the normal criteria for recruitment: The eager one is turned away, the half-hearted one is summoned. Though they both want to be disciples, they have dissimilar approaches and dissimilar counsel. Jesus presents here the model of managing two different temperaments, one quick and eager, the other dull and heavy; the former was impulsive and needed to think first, while the latter was overcautious and needed to prioritize. Therefore Jesus instructions are adapted according to each one and challenge them to count the cost – a life of self-denial.
