Choice

   

  Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

04 September 2022 

 

First Reading: Wis 9:13-18b

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

Second Reading: Phmn 9-10, 12-17

Gospel: Lk 14:25-33

 

Reflection

By: Grace Madrinan

 

I would be completely lying if I said that I am not taken aback by the Gospel for today especially when I read the first part. "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." I love my family, why would I hate them?

Then I realized that I should not take this to context and focus on the message. Good thing is, the succeeding verses make it clearer, "In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33)."

God does not say to hate our family. In fact, He said, "Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12)." But if your family is preventing you from doing the right thing, or worst, forcing you to do wrong, then we must choose to follow God.

Did God say renounce all possessions!? At first, it felt as if God was asking us to sell our possessions and live with the poor. But I believe He meant to ask for our loyalty and undivided attention. We must choose God over everything. And we can start with small things. Do we choose to pray before we open our mobile phones in the morning? Do we choose to go to Mass before we go to the mall? Or did we miss Mass because we binge watched on Netflix the night before?

Who says following God is easy? In a world full of distractions, following God requires mindfulness to constantly do the right thing. But like any other relationship, we are given the choice. I hope at the end of the day, we choose to follow God.

"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that You are the Holy One of God." - John 6:68-69

Prayer

Father God, forgive us for our shortcomings. We are usually distracted by fleeting things. Teach us to constantly look up to You and choose to follow You all the days of our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.