May the Lord bless you with grace, peace, and health in the Holy Spirit. It is 04th September 2022. We are celebrating the 23rd Sunday of ordinary time. We reflect on Wisdom 9:13-18; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; and Luke 14:25-33.
“History does not wait for great people to be born. It makes some people great who are already born,” says Friedrich Engels.
Three lessons for discipleship from three reading. The first reading invites us to embrace wisdom to know the plan and will of God for a disciple. In the second reading, St. Paul presents a model for disciples of Christ to treat even a slave to be a brother in Christ and manage him with respect, dignity, and love. And in the Gospel, Jesus demands a complete detachment from all that makes us be away from Christ even if it might be a significant relationship or our life itself.
“Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?” (Wis. 9:17). Paul appeals to a wealthy convert, for the runaway slave Onesimus. “You might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother-especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” (Phil.16). “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk.14:26).
Why does Jesus ask us to detach ourselves from those who are so close to our hearts, especially fathers, mother, spouse, children, and even life? Just because of our crazy love that diminishes our true love for Christ. A kind of slavish, selfish, and sinful way we express our love to the other person. The second thing every disciple of Christ needs to embrace is that hate for oneself. When we love ourselves and give a kind of self-importance to ourselves, we end up hurting and damaging others. We love truly ourselves when we care for and value others. The third condition is to give up our attachment on possession. Some of us are so mad after our possessions. We believe at times that our happiness solely depends on them.
If the wisdom that the Lord gives remains in us, we can understand everything.
“For Christ’s sake I consider all rubbish,” said St. Paul.
Are we willing to lose anything to gain Christ in our lives?
Who do I put first in my life? For money? For affection? Fame? God? I should always feel the love of God in my life, and I should lose anything for it. Let us pray to God for such love.
A Christian is not one with the crowd. One of the gangs is unchristian. Everyone is important. Everyone’s role and activity are essential. Our greatness comes in belonging to the Mystical Body of Christ. Read 1 Cor 12’12-30
A true disciple participates, takes responsibility and tenderly cares for others.
May the Lord help us to be true disciples of Him. Have a lovely day.