A Failed Follower

Et ait illis Jesus: Vulpes foveas habent, et volucres coeli nidos, Filius autem hominis non habet ubi caput reclinet. Ex Domini verbis ostenditur hunc qui obsequium promittit ob hoc repudiatum, quod signorum videns magnitudinem, sequi voluerit Salvatorem, ut lucra ex operum miraculis quaereret, hoc idem desiderans, quod et Simon Magus a Petro emere voluerat. Talis ergo fides juste sententia Domini condemnatur, et dicitur ei: Quid me propter divitias et saeculi lucra cupis sequi cum tantae sim paupertatis, ut ne hospitiolum quidem habeam, et non meo utar tecto? Aliter, intelligitur miraculis Domini commotus propter inanem jactantiam eum sequi voluisse, quam significant aves. Finxisse autem discipuli obsequium, quae fictio vulpium nomine significata est. Reclinatione vero capitis humilitatem suam significavit, quae in illo simulatore ac superbo non habebat locum. Sanctus Beda, In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, Liber III, Caput IX Source: Migne PL 92.460c-d

Jesus said to them, 'Foxes have their holes, and the birds of heaven their nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest His head.' 1 From these words of the Lord it is shown that this man who promised to follow is repudiated, because he wished to follow having seen the greatness of His signs so that he might try to profit from the work of miracles, which same thing Simon Magus desired, and wished to buy from Peter. 2 The speech of the Lord rightly condemns such faith and it is said to him, 'Why did you desire to follow me for the sake of wealth and worldly gain when I am so poor so that I do not have anywhere to rest and no roof over my head?' Otherwise it may be understood that having been amazed by the miracles of the Lord this man wished to follow Him for the sake of inane boasting, which the birds signify. But the following of the disciple was false, which fiction He names by foxes. However the resting of the head signifies humility, which has no place for deceit or pride. Saint Bede, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Book 3, Chapter 9 1 Lk 9.58 2 Acts 8.18-20