Immediately - Have you ever noticed when listening or reading the Gospel, how following a particular event, the word immediately follows and in turn leads to some new action.
For example, in Mark’s gospel we see he is fond of the Greek word euthus, often translated “immediately,” which appears 41 times. Though the word does not always mean “just then,” it serves to propel the narrative forward with speed and urgency. This is a Gospel on steroids!
We find it in the call of the disciples, where as soon as Jesus said, “Follow Me” they left their nets and did just that.
The question is are we immediate Christians or something quite the opposite, “delayed-disciple” , “sluggish-students”, “tardy-travellers”.
Perhaps its a little like my grandmother used say, “be penny-wise and pound-foolish” and Jesus warned about counting the current cost and ignoring the benefits of immediate action.
It was Ignatius of Loyola who prayed,
“Lord, teach me to be generous;
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil, and not to seek for rest;
To labour, and not to ask for reward -
except to know that I am doing your will.”
Saint Ignatius of Loyola was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus. The compiler of the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius was described by Pope Benedict XVI as being above all a man of God, who gave the first place of his life to God, and a man of profound prayer.
How do we respond to God? The call of God is not always to a glamorous vocation, and its fruit in this world is often bittersweet. Yet God calls us according to our gifts and talents, and directs us to paths of the most useful service to His kingdom. How impoverished we would be if Jonah had made it to Tarshish, if Paul had refused to preach, if Jeremiah really had turned in his prophet’s card, or if Jesus had politely declined the cup.
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