Nehemiah feels called by God to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and he sets about his task with great purpose, urgency and courage. Immediately, he receives permission of the king, obtains the necessary letters that would allow him to enter Judah, as well as the materials that were to be used to rebuild the temple. Nehemiah did not hesitate to wonder what may or could happen.

In contrast, in the Gospel, we read how each of the three individuals, who were called by Jesus to follow him, hesitated or made excuses. They were willing to follow Jesus but based on their own terms or after having completing their own tasks.

What about us? When we feel called by Jesus to follow him more closely as his disciples especially in a certain area of our lives, such as to be more patient, more loving, more compassionate, more prayerful and so on, do we respond to this call with great urgency, courage and purpose?

Or do we hesitate, giving excuses and putting it off for another day saying that we are busy or are preoccupied with more important things? Or are we only willing to follow Jesus, based on our own terms?

The call to Christian discipleship is a call to total and unhesitating surrender to Jesus, the Master. There are no half-ways about it!