Wis 9:13-18b; Phil 9-10:12-17; Lk 14:25-33
A mother announced that a prize would be given every Saturday to the member of the family who had been the most obedient.
“Oh, but, Mommy,” chorused the children, “that wouldn’t be fair. Daddy would win every time!”
[The story is from More Quotes and Anecdotes by Anthony P. Castle]
In the gospel, Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”.
The use of the word “hate” needs clarification. Quite obviously, Jesus is not asking us to harbor ill feelings or anger against our family or against ourselves. He uses the word “hate” in order to deliver with great emphasis his message, which is, that nothing should stop us in following him, not even family or some selfish interests. The parallel passage in Matthew makes this clear: “Whoever loves father, mother, brothers and sisters more than me is not worthy of me” (10:37). It is, therefore, a question of priority, not of hurting people’s feelings. God, not our families and self, must stay at the top of our preferences because he is the source of all our being and becoming.
The fact is we are called to live harmoniously with our father and mother, sisters and brothers, wife and children. These people could make the best of our relationships when they help us see the truth more clearly or when they inspire us to follow Christ more closely. But when these relationships make us more inward-looking, stop us from reaching out to others, and lead us back from recognizing God’s presence in other people, then the words of Jesus would really mean a lot: “Unless you hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, you cannot be my disciple.”
The Lord also declares, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple”.
Discipleship involves self-denial and sacrifice. A narcissistic person cannot follow Christ because he will be preoccupied with his own needs and desires. One must first free himself from personal ambitions and worldly cares in order to have time for God and neighbors. Moreover, discipleship entails carrying of the cross. The person who is afraid of pain or struggles can hardly serve the good of other people. To follow Christ is to serve the poor, the sick, and the weak. Doing these things often is not comfortable and involves a lot of courage.
The two short parables in the gospel are meant to illustrate the necessity of counting the cost of following Christ. Before constructing a tower, the builder sits down and calculates the cost to see if he has enough resources to finish it. Before going to war, the king studies carefully if he has the needed forces to win a fierce battle. In like manner, we are told to count the cost before following Christ. Are we willing to give up some sinful ways or desires that contradict the gospel? Are we willing to sacrifice our personal wants or the convenience of our family in order to promote the goods of others? Do we have the willingness to suffer persecution in order to defend the truth or to protect the innocent?
Becoming a true disciple of Christ is the biggest endeavor that we will ever undertake in this life. We hope that today’s gospel will inspire us to start considering our discipleship more seriously.
A mother announced that a prize would be given every Saturday to the member of the family who had been the most obedient.
“Oh, but, Mommy,” chorused the children, “that wouldn’t be fair. Daddy would win every time!”
[The story is from More Quotes and Anecdotes by Anthony P. Castle]
In the gospel, Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple”.
The use of the word “hate” needs clarification. Quite obviously, Jesus is not asking us to harbor ill feelings or anger against our family or against ourselves. He uses the word “hate” in order to deliver with great emphasis his message, which is, that nothing should stop us in following him, not even family or some selfish interests. The parallel passage in Matthew makes this clear: “Whoever loves father, mother, brothers and sisters more than me is not worthy of me” (10:37). It is, therefore, a question of priority, not of hurting people’s feelings. God, not our families and self, must stay at the top of our preferences because he is the source of all our being and becoming.
The fact is we are called to live harmoniously with our father and mother, sisters and brothers, wife and children. These people could make the best of our relationships when they help us see the truth more clearly or when they inspire us to follow Christ more closely. But when these relationships make us more inward-looking, stop us from reaching out to others, and lead us back from recognizing God’s presence in other people, then the words of Jesus would really mean a lot: “Unless you hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, you cannot be my disciple.”
The Lord also declares, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple”.
Discipleship involves self-denial and sacrifice. A narcissistic person cannot follow Christ because he will be preoccupied with his own needs and desires. One must first free himself from personal ambitions and worldly cares in order to have time for God and neighbors. Moreover, discipleship entails carrying of the cross. The person who is afraid of pain or struggles can hardly serve the good of other people. To follow Christ is to serve the poor, the sick, and the weak. Doing these things often is not comfortable and involves a lot of courage.
The two short parables in the gospel are meant to illustrate the necessity of counting the cost of following Christ. Before constructing a tower, the builder sits down and calculates the cost to see if he has enough resources to finish it. Before going to war, the king studies carefully if he has the needed forces to win a fierce battle. In like manner, we are told to count the cost before following Christ. Are we willing to give up some sinful ways or desires that contradict the gospel? Are we willing to sacrifice our personal wants or the convenience of our family in order to promote the goods of others? Do we have the willingness to suffer persecution in order to defend the truth or to protect the innocent?
Becoming a true disciple of Christ is the biggest endeavor that we will ever undertake in this life. We hope that today’s gospel will inspire us to start considering our discipleship more seriously.
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