Our Venerable Father Sisoes the Great (c. 429)
Read
Romans 6:11-17; Matthew 8:14-23
Not too long ago, we heard in the Gospel readings that we are to seek first the Kingdom of God. Everything in our lives must first give way to our living the Good News as disciples of our Lord Jesus. Even if you are married, the Lord and life in Him comes before your spouse and your children (however, often the two coincide). The Lord takes our commitment to Him seriously, and just as He is serious about His commitment to us. Even in family matters, something which many of us, if not all, hold very dear are to come second to our discipleship. The Good News needs to be taken to all the ends of the world. In today’s Gospel, the scribe pledged discipleship to the Lord and then immediately asked for an exemption. The Lord did not respond in an inhumane manner; rather, he pointed out the discipleship principle: I am committed to you and you are committed to me. This echoes the pledge of the Old Testament: I will be your God and you will be my people.