Jesus told Peter to mind his own journey. This is good advice for all of us. Too many times we base our own sense of self-worth and spirituality by comparing ourselves to others. We either look at those whom we consider super-spiritual and tell ourselves that we are not worthy. Or, we look at those whom we consider to be slackers and become smug in our superiority. Both attitudes are dangerous and unproductive. When Peter did this Jesus scolded him and said (my translation), “Peter, you mind your own journey and simply follow me.”
There it is. That is our task. Follow Jesus. He is the way. If we see him, we see the Father. The Spirit gives us eyes to see and the strength to follow. Our task is not to judge each other, but to follow Jesus side by side and help each other along the journey.
When we turn our attention to what the Bible shows us about how to actually follow Jesus in daily life, two things stand out immediately are obeying his teaching and following his example.
What does it mean to obey Jesus’s teaching? It means hearing the word of God and acting on it. It implies aligning our will to God’s will; doing what God has asked us to do. It is when we completely surrender to His authority and base our decisions and our actions on His Word.
How about following Jesus’s example? The first commandment is to love God. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” God comes first in everything. Show God how much you love Him through your prayers and actions. Sounds pretty easy doesn’t it? In today’s world do we really put God before money, our ego, pleasure, etc.?
Let’s mind our own journey, walking together towards God.
Jesús le dijo a Pedro que se preocupara de su propio camino. Este es un buen consejo para todos nosotros. Muchas veces basamos nuestro propio sentido de autoestima y espiritualidad en compararnos con los demás. O miramos a aquellos a quienes consideramos súper espirituales y nos decimos a nosotros mismos que no somos dignos. O miramos a aquellos a quienes consideramos holgazanes y nos enorgullecemos de nuestra superioridad. Ambas actitudes son peligrosas e improductivas. Cuando Pedro hizo esto, Jesús lo regañó y le dijo (mi traducción): “Pedro, preocúpate de tu propio camino y simplemente sígueme”.
Ahí está. Ésa es nuestra tarea. Seguir a Jesus. Él es el camino. Si lo vemos, vemos al Padre. El Espíritu nos da ojos para ver y fuerza para seguir. Nuestra tarea no es juzgarnos unos a otros, sino seguir a Jesús y ayudarnos unos a otros en el camino.
Cuando dirigimos nuestra atención a lo que la Biblia nos demuestra acerca de cómo seguir realmente a Jesús en la vida diaria, dos cosas se destacan inmediatamente: obedecer sus enseñanzas y seguir su ejemplo.
¿Qué significa obedecer las enseñanzas de Jesús? Significa escuchar la palabra de Dios y actuar en consecuencia. Implica alinear nuestra voluntad con la voluntad de Dios; haciendo lo que Dios nos ha pedido que hagamos. Es cuando nos rendimos completamente a Su autoridad y basamos nuestras decisiones y nuestras acciones en Su Palabra.
¿Cómo seguimos el ejemplo de Jesús? El primer mandamiento es amar a Dios. Jesús dijo: “Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con toda tu mente, y con todas tus fuerzas. Este es el primer mandamiento.” Dios es lo primero en todo. Muéstrale a Dios cuánto lo amas a través de tus oraciones y acciones. Suena bastante fácil ¿no? ¿En el mundo actual realmente ponemos a Dios ante el dinero, a nuestro ego, al placer, etc.?
Preocupémonos de nuestro propio camino, caminando juntos hacia Dios.
Tom O’Connor is a candidate for the Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. He is currently serving at Sacred Heart Parish in Watson and St. Stanislaus in Dorr, Michigan. He is married to Sheryl O’Connor. They have recently discovered the joy of kayaking and can be found out on a quiet lake as often as possible.
Feature Image Credit: Clemens van Lay, unsplash.com/photos/the-journey-is-on-led-signage-un1s8VOLRC0
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