First Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18
Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them. 'Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple. No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can 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, anyone who saw it would start making fun of him and saying, "Here is someone 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 was advancing 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 without giving up all that he owns.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17
Second Reading: Philemon 1:9-10, 12-17
I am rather appealing to your love, being what I am, Paul, an old man, and now also 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 -- that is to say, sending you my own heart.
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 gospel 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 suppose you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, merely so that you could have him back for ever, no longer as a slave, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, both on the natural plane and in the Lord. So if you grant me any fellowship with yourself, welcome him as you would me;
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds accompanied him on his way and he turned and spoke to them. 'Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple. No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can 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, anyone who saw it would start making fun of him and saying, "Here is someone 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 was advancing 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 without giving up all that he owns.
Reflection
by Theresa Ballo
Today’s Gospel passage speaks about the demands of discipleship. It speaks about a complete surrender and giving of oneself which is necessary to become Jesus’ true disciple. Acceptance of the call requires readiness to bear suffering and a realistic assessment of the costs. This includes detachment from family, possessions or even one’s comfort zone. To accept Christ is to accept His cross as well.
In the midst of the many voices clamouring for our time, money and attention, we are called to choose Christ and in so doing we could get hurt, rejected and abandoned. Choosing Jesus does not mean a perfect and easy life. Every choice we make automatically exclude other choices. You have to let go of one in order to gain something. Yet it does not necessarily mean that you made the best choice. This is a challenge for each of us, especially in our day. We so often define choice not as a freedom to choose one action over another, but as the freedom to choose everything at once.
“One mission is better than a thousand options” Cardinal George Pell once said. Only commitments bring fulfilment. Happiness comes from doing our obligations, where we are right now, doing our duty especially the small matters done consistently. Discipleship may cost us everything, yet it will gain for us all that will ever matter.
I am of one of the hundreds of people claiming as “wounded-healers”. The kind of people who experience traumatic experiences or abuse during childhood yet grew up to help people deal with it and manage it as it resurface through stages of life. At first, I was very hesitant and afraid to answer His call. Nevertheless with prayers, self-assessment and with the help of my mentors I know Jesus is calling me for this mission. However, the past months were quite a challenge. I cannot finish something I’ve been doing for years that would set my credibility in my profession. More so, I felt responsible for something that somehow shows my negligence or worse, lack of skills. Right now, I am doubtful of myself and want to try other options. Am I telling Jesus because I am having a hard time, I am giving up my commitment with you?
Oftentimes I would hear Him saying, “Think about what you are doing and decide if you are willing to stay with me all the way.” And in my imagination I would see His Sacred Heart, so loving and compassionate. Then I would be reminded about the lost and sinful women in the Bible, the fishermen in Galilee and even the tax collectors. To be called does not require perfection on our behalf, only fidelity and humility. The Gospel reminded us our call to greatness. The path may not seem straight but if we choose to have Jesus in our lives and be his disciple, we will all see one another in the same destination, to God’s Kingdom.
Prayer
Lord,
Send us your Holy Spirit to always discern ourselves and Your will when making any decision, especially the life-changing ones. May we always choose you and follow your footsteps. Give us the courage to stay with you even if it is hard , even if it pains us. It is your unconditional love that gives us strength to love even more. Amen.
