Sayings on Discipleship (SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 GOSPEL AND REFLECTION) Lk 14:25-33 25Great crowds were traveling with [Jesus], and he turned and addressed them, 26“If any- one 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: If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother. Jesus tells the crowds, in a Hebraic way, that they must prefer him to anyone dear to them—father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—and even to their own selves if they want to be his disciples. Jesus demands unrivalled priority in our hearts. He can require this because he is not only a man or messiah but in fact the Son of God, true God. Do we give Christ the number one and unrivalled place in our hearts? Is there something or someone in our lives that competes for first place against Christ? Are we truly willing to renounce everything, if need be, for the Lord’s sake? Our first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, whose feast we celebrate this month, was asked by the Japanese authorities, “Therefore, if we grant your life, will you renounce your faith?” He replied, “That I will never do, because I am a Christian, and I shall die for God, and for him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them.” He died a most painful death for Christ.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 15:07:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015