23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
05 September 2010
First reading Wisdom 9:13-18
What man indeed can know the intentions of God?
Who can divine the will of the Lord?
The reasonings of mortals are unsure
and our intentions unstable;
for a perishable body presses down the soul,
and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind.
It is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth,
laborious to know what lies within our reach;
who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?
As for your intention, who could have learnt it, had you not granted Wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from above?
Thus have the paths of those on earth been straightened
and men been taught what pleases you,
and saved, by Wisdom.
Psalm: Psalm 89:3-6,12-14,17
Second reading Philemon 1:9-10,12-17
This is Paul writing, an old man now and, what is more, still a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I mean Onesimus. I am sending him back to you, and with him – I could say – a part of my own self. I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while I am in the chains that the Good News has brought me. However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act of kindness, which should be spontaneous. I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord. So if all that we have in common means anything to you, welcome him as you would me.
Gospel Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. 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 and come after me cannot be my disciple.
‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “‘ Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’
Reflection
By Pietro S. Albano
Eugene is a highly skilled professional in Manila. His job as a manager was something he had dreamed of while he was still studying in college. The company where he's employed looked really promising, same goes with his career. His salary was alright; he could buy what he needed and has some savings in the bank. In spite of this, his wife lives and works. His wife's job has good pay too as well as the chances of getting a promotion. They see each other from time to time; either he visits his wife for a month abroad or she visits him at home. At one point Eugene felt that this should not go on and decided to leave Manila to be with his wife. With a heavy heart, he flew to where his wife lives. He brought all his credentials (diploma, transcript of records, CV, etc) so he could apply for work. It wasn't easy as the country where his wife works has a different standard from the Philippines. Weeks became months and the poor guy still has no job and relies on his wife. He didn't forsee such eventualities crossing his way. He became depressed which made him not think clearly. To his depression was added the rather coldness of his wife who would call him "Tanga" (idiot) whenever he makes mistakes. Eugene wanted to come home, but the fear of being ridiculed and maligned by others prevents him from making this decision. Apart from that is the mentality that anyone who comes from abroad has money. He decided to stay with his wife. He later got a job and although it is not the same as what he had before, he chose to put up with it. He moved on.
Jesus, in today's Gospel, warns those who wish to follow Him to take a serious look at the cost of being His disciples before making a decision. To have that wisdom to learn God's intention as what the First Reading tells us. Otherwise, we will end up like Eugene who wasn't wise enough to forsee the consequences of his actions.
Father, forgive us for the many times that we have made a fool of ourselves by choosing what we thought would make us happy, for selecting those that we thought would give you glory. Pardon us when we choose falsely, when we jump into conclusions, when we make rash judgments against others. Have mercy on us for the many moments when we blamed others except ourseleves. Send us Your Spirit of Wisdom to assist us in finding out Your will and in following the footsteps of Jesus who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Stubborn Love
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