Matthew 8:20 “in a snailshell”
Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 Gloria M. Chang
Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18-22 (RSV)
Following Jesus: A Call to Radical Trust
To follow Jesus is to let go of worldly security and embrace a life shaped by his cross. When an eager scribe vows, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go,” Jesus responds, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” His itinerant life, free from possessions, reveals total devotion to his Father’s will. Another disciple, seeking to bury his father first, hears the startling call: “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Earthly ties, however sacred, must yield to the urgency of Christ’s mission. This world is fleeting, but God’s kingdom endures. When Jesus calls, may we trust our heavenly Father with all earthly concerns and follow without delay.
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.
Nor even a shell to crawl into bed!
Dear GMC, thank you for your reflection. I found a commentary by Saint Augustine: “Otherwise; The Son of man hath not where to lay his head; that is, in your faith. The foxes have holes, in your heart, because you are deceitful. The birds of the air have nests, in your heart, because you are proud. Deceitful and proud follow Me not; for how should guile follow sincerity?” Thank you for snail, sleeping snuggly with innocent faith.
Thank you for sharing St. Augustine’s commentary. It’s a good example of allegorical interpretation in patristic spirituality. 🐌💤🌸
I don’t feel called to itinerary life,
I’m a true homebody,
I’m not at all travel ready,
My steadfast steps forward,
Ever close to the homestead.
Lord, you have placed me here,
Under Divine Providence,
Let me be a good caretaker,
Witness to Christian charity,
Where it begins, at home with family.
Rooted in Christ, our love encircles the earth.