Jeremiah 20:7-9 / Romans 12:1-2 / Matthew 16:21-27
The word “domestic” gives the idea that it is relating to the home, the household, household affairs or the family.
And from that word comes another word and that is “domesticated”, and it is usually referred to animals and plants.
So a domesticated animal can be a pet that is usually kept at home or livestock that is on a farm. The same can be said of plants.
The word domesticated is not usually used on persons, unless it is meant to be a joke, as in “he was a wild man but after he got married he was domesticated.”
Nonetheless, domesticated has a positive meaning, and that is to nurture, to cultivate, to groom, and to form.
Over the past few months, there was a sort of domestication, but it was a kind of forced domestication.
We have to stay at home, work from home, learn from home.
Domestication usually results in a change of behaviour, a change of lifestyle, a change of mentality, and an overall change.
So has these few months brought about any change in us? And has it been a positive change? Has it been a creative change?
When Jesus called His disciples, it wasn’t for the purpose of domestication, in that He wanted to be a master and treat them as His slaves.
Rather He wants to form them in the ways of God and He will even set the example for them.
So when Jesus told His disciples that He was destined to suffer grievously and to be put to death and raised up on the third day, Peter started to remonstrate with Him.
But with that Jesus taught His disciples about the difference between God’s ways and man’s ways.
And the other lessons also followed, like the cross and the renunciation of self, and what has a man to offer in exchange for his life even if he gains the whole world.
Over these months, there were many safety measures and regulations that we have to comply with.
Do we observe them, or do we flout them whenever we can?
We want freedom from rules and regulations, whether in society or in the Church.
But we have to realize that true freedom lies in obedience to God and also in compliance to the rules and regulations of society that are for our good.
Jesus does not want us to be like domesticated slaves who will only obey when punished.
He wants us to exercise our freedom by being obedient and being faithful to God.
May we be obedient to the ways of God and by our lives of faithfulness, may we also teach others what is right and what is good for them.