Sayings on Discipleship (November 6, 2013 GOSPEL AND REFLECTION) Lk 14:25-33 25Great crowds were traveling with [Jesus], and he turned and addressed them, 26“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. 27Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Reflection: He cannot be my disciple. When Jesus invites people, he asks them to weigh matters very carefully. He wants followers who follow him with open eyes, and so he lays down the stark demands of discipleship: the person who wants to be his follower must prefer him to parents, spouse, children, brothers and sisters, and even life itself. One must be willing to suffer for Jesus. How different are the conditions for following Jesus from the attractive salaries and perks offered by companies who want to hire high-class executives and employees! Do you prefer to have Jesus even if it costs you the loss of those dearest to you, even of your very life? That is what our martyrs Sts. Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod did. And look at the eternal glory they have received!
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 00:47:04 +0000