Until and unless one is rooted in a strong faith, in the awesome love of God for us, the demands of genuine Christian discipleship would seem daunting. Reading Paul's portrayal of the required characteristics of a community leader and Jesus' stern warnings of the dangers and pitfalls of following Him on the way, makes us want to question the depth of our own integrity. The worst evil I can fall into, that is being an obstacle/scandal in the path of the other would-be followers, warrants a severe condemnation by Jesus. It would be better, for such a person never to have been born into this world! "Watch yourselves!", Jesus warns His disciples.

True, we slip and fall along the way to eternal life, but there is always the all-forgiving love of God to pick us up again. How forgiving are we of one another? The mark of true discipleship is to forgive again and again - forever! Unforgiveness is an obstacle we need to uproot from our life. It destroys/kills the spirit of God within. Whatever else we present before God is useless if our heart is not filled with forgiving love for the other. 'Leave your gift ¡K go and be reconciled first ¡K' is the command of love. Only then will we 'shine in the world like bright stars because we are offering it the Word of Life.' (Phil. 2:15-16 ).