Be Resolute!

By Niobe Rodriguez

Resolute is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “marked by firm determination” and “bold, steady”.

In my own life, there are few things that I am resolute about. As an expert procrastinator, at times I set a date and time to accomplish things and then postpone if more time is available to me. Sometimes it works out; other times it causes problems that would not have arisen if only I’d done what I was supposed to do in the first place.

Did Jesus find it challenging to stay focused? According to Luke 9:51, it is possible. It says, “When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem…”.

Earlier in this chapter, He had shared with His disciples His pending crucifixion and death, He had performed the feeding of the multitude, been transfigured, and done other miracles.

While the signs and miracles were awesome, for Jesus, and the disciples, they could have been distractions. After seeing the wonderful healing and multiplication of the loaves, persons volunteered to follow Jesus but on their own schedule and timing.

In other words, just like me, they procrastinated; yet Jesus did not command them to drop what they were doing. He gave some advice and left them to make the choice.

Why is it that we find it difficult to commit? St Paul in his letter to the Galatians has the answer: “For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.”

Commitment is difficult because you — and I — have to fight against self. How would I — we — win this fight? When the lure of creature comforts and old habits come whispering, cajoling, calling, sometimes shouting even; how do we stay focused on what we have given ourselves to?

Rizon in his song Never Too Late advises us to fight:

I hear these voices callin’ callin’

De valley dere (callin′), de valley dere (callin me′)

Sometimes i feel i’m fallin′, fallin’

Fadda i′m ballin’ …cover meeeee

Some wish I would turn back aha

Some wish I would fade away

Some wish I would give up honor

Let me… tell dem man a fighter

Dey can′t tek my crown

Tell dem man ah fighter,

Dey can’t break I down

Never too late

Not too late to come back stronger

Not too late to make a way

Not too late to turn tings around

Trust me, tell dem man ah fighter…

In the first verse he says, “My whole entire family dependin′ on me, to do my part…, to pull my weight”. Isn’t this what Jesus was thinking when He resolved to head to Jerusalem? About His family?

He must have been thinking about the Church that would be born out of His sufferings. He must have thought of the crown of thorns that would precede the crowns of righteousness that His followers and believers in Him would receive.

For us to be able to fight and endure, Jesus had to be the example. He had to show the way. Often, we recall the miraculous works of Jesus, as we should, yet when we experience our own hardships, we must recall He underwent His as well and be inspired not to give up.

Let us not be distracted by our internal wrangling or by situations which may only bring bondage. Let us remember that He suffered so that we could be free.