Luke 14: 25-33
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm
O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciuosly upon youjr beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ
may receive true freedom
and an everlastingin inheritance.
Through out Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
(Opening Collect of Mass)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Catholic school teacher once asked her eager 10 year old students to hold up their hands if they would give $1 million to the missionaries. All their hands went up immediately and they shouted “Yes.” She then pushed the point further and asked if they would give $1,000, then $100 and each time they eagerly all waved their hands in the air and shouted a firm “Yes.”
Then she asked a final time if they would give even $1
to the missionaries. They once again
shouted “Yes” except for one boy who did not raise his hand this time. The teacher asked him “Why didn’t you say
‘Yes’ this time?” The boy said, “Well, I actually have a dollar.” Can we let go of one dollar for a higher good?
What about Jesus’ own words about the true cost of
being his disciple? Jesus makes at first three inhuman demands on us to be his
disciples: to hate one’s family members, including your parents; to carry
the cross, and to give up all your possessions. I’m not sure about you but
I would reassess my desire to follow Jesus if he literally means this.
That to follow him will not be the easy or necessarily
the popular way. Masses of people followed him following for a variety of
reasons: his teaching, healing, compassionate manner and his evident power for
everyone wants to be on the winner’s side. To an oppressed and exploited people
his presence was the longed-for hope.
Over the last several Sunday’s Jesus has been rather
harsh in our choice of Gospels as he lays out for us his demands of Christian
discipleship – and they have not been comfortable. We’ve heard about divisiveness in families
over matters of faith, about humility, and the narrow gate to salvation. This
Sunday we hear Jesus speaking of hate towards family members and about
renouncing all possessions. These are
tough words and perhaps the most controversial he spoke
Is he asking the impossible for the average person? In
the end this is a lesson is detachment. It is not just about being a disciple
but about being a serious disciple. Not
saying, “I’ll follow you Lord” and then when reality hits, you say: “Well, on second
thought.”
Jesus taught in the style of the ancient rabbis. They exaggerate to drive home a point, often
by using shocking examples: cut off your hand and pluck out your eye! It
emphasizes the seriousness of sin and is hard to forget since sometimes we need
a knock on the head.
Yet, the word is a strong one and Jesus’ demand is not
wishy-washy. The clincher is at the end
of today’s Gospel passage: “Anyone who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.” So, Jesus words imply both a requirement and a
certain attitude towards what I may consider is of great value in my life. What or who can I not live without? What or who is my most precious
possession? What is possessing me rather
than be seen as temporary. What or who might I consider irreplaceable? Most of us would always choose people over
possessions but is Jesus asking more?
For those families who may have experienced the loss
of their home in a fire or most recently in a hurricane understand how valuable
are the family members rather than the stuff in their home. You can’t replace
people like things. But, today Jesus words about “hating father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sister, even his own life . . .” can really
cause us to question Jesus.
The same may be true about the images he uses in the
Gospel of a builder and a King who marches into battle. They make great efforts to calculate and plan
their next move. They measure carefully to
construct a building that will be strong and last many years and they calculate
the size of the opposing army in relation to their own. All this takes a
certain common sense and skill. Yet is this some sort of backhanded approval of
military action?
Putting this all together, and understanding that
Jesus’ words may imply a different kind of “hate” in its original context we
may find his call to discipleship may not be as heart wrenching in its
implication as first impresses. Still, it is a serious challenge that demands
an assessment of our priorities.
So, really the implication is not to “hate” family
members in the sense of hostility but more to greatly prefer something else
when faced with a choice. To have God above all things and people rather than
to make “gods” of things and people. To follow the Lord; to live by his values
and morals and to prefer nothing else that would be less than that. In the same
way, to not be attached to people or possessions in a way that would distract
me from the higher value of following the Lord.
I “hate” this thing or even this relationship because it is blocking the
greater need to develop a relationship with Christ. Ultimately, to know that
even when it comes to family and the “stuff” I have, when in conflict, I would
always choose God above all others.
These are tough words to be sure but in the larger context of daily
Christian living, they make sense if we take our discipleship seriously.
Christian history has provided many inspiring examples
of those who took these words literally:
St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Moore, and St. Teresa of Calcutta
among many others. So, while it may seem
daunting, we know with the grace of God all is possible. These were not just
followers of the Lord – they were true disciples of Jesus and that is where we
are all called to go. Conversion is a daily process of prayer, reflection,
common sense, and perseverance. Like the builder and the King in the Gospel, we
must also be calculating in the overall value we place upon our life of faith
and our relationship with God
So, maybe basic question to ask ourselves is “Am I a
follower of Christ or am I his disciple?” Am I willing to engage in serious discipleship?
No comments:
Post a Comment