“SEEDS OF LIFE”
Sunday, 4th September 2016.
Twenty Third Week of Ordinary Time
Wisdom 9:13-16;
Psalms 89:3-6, 12-14, 17;
Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17;
Luke 14:25-33.
COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
“If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross after me cannot be my disciple.” The language of the introductory sentence of today’s Gospel is very tough. Discipleship means God’s work first and all other attachments second. Not everyone will be happy with this, but it explains why there are few disciples of Jesus.
In Jesus’ time as in our own there are always people ready to follow the new; ideas, fashions even religions. Anyone can stand up and declare themselves as a disciple for Jesus especially in the heat of a religious experience. The kingdom of God however is not built on emotion but on faithful commitment. Discipleship costs. Can you pay the price?
Jesus suggests that his discipleship is not something to accept blindly. “Sit down,” he says, “Weigh the pros and cons.” Don’t say yes until you are reasonably sure. In contrast, many evangelical movements, sects and some religions believe religion is about numbers. Jesus doesn’t want reluctant disciples. He does not offer an ideology or an earthly kingdom, he doesn’t want people to feel trapped in something they don’t understand. Jesus proclaims freedom. His disciples proclaim freedom. We can’t do that if we don’t feel free.
Like Jesus, we have to expand our narrow view of family and nation. The word family has to include all people. Jesus’ message was to all, he had no favorites. We many a times try to keep the best for our kin and friends. Whereas a disciple of Christ proclaims the gospel to all, since all are his brothers and sisters.
A striking example of this comes in the short letter to Philemon. Paul writes to a friend on behalf of a runaway slave, Onesimus. In the letter Paul does not ask just for the acceptance back into the household for the slave and the remittance of punishment, but Paul asks Philemon to welcome Onesimus back as his brother. Such is Paul’s confidence in the quality of Philemon’s discipleship that he says, “I know you’ll do more than I ask.”
The two short stories in Luke’s Gospel today speak about sensible planning. The first one is about deciding to build a house. One sits down, makes plans, calculates his finances and other factors before he/she begins the project, for it will be foolish to start on the foundations and run out of money. The second repeats the message. If a country decides to go to war the leaders will have to sit down and consider the cost. Maybe a better solution will be to work for peace. Similarly, Jesus is asking us to calculate the costs of being his disciple, or lest we begin our foundation in Christ and we be lost.
Many begin to follow Christ with zeal, but as the Gospel begins to challenge them, they are lost and look for spiritualties which are comfortable. They keep visiting churches and prayer groups one after another. They become superficial Christians. Jesus asks us today, if we have made a clear convinced decision to follow Him. He asks us to reconsider, continuously evaluate one’s life so as to be true disciple.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Give me the conviction to be a true disciple, one who lives the Gospel and is faithful to you at all times. Amen.
