discipleship of hating the members of our family. Certainly Jesus is not commanding us to hate others, especially our fa
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Wisdom Path Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 2016 Refection By: Deacon Paul Hursh Who can know the mind of God? The obvious response to this rhetorical question, posed in our first reading from Wisdom (9:13-18b), is that we can know nothing of God, but God’s unfathomable nature and obvious goodness. We certainly cannot know what is in store for us in this life, beyond our own shallow plans, or in the life to come, beyond our wildest imaginations.
One thing we do have from our creator is the wisdom given us through the Holy Spirit that puts us on the right path that leads us to the coming Kingdom. Like the Apostle, Thomas, we too may ask, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”” (John 14:5) Jesus’ response to this question is, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) The requirements for following Jesus are the subject of our Gospel for this Sunday. (Luke 14:25-33)
In our Gospel from Luke, Jesus grabs our attention with his hyperbolic requirement for discipleship of hating the members of our family. Certainly Jesus is not commanding us to hate others, especially our family members, but his response serves the purpose of capturing our attention. He is impressing upon us that the requirements of discipleship are more than initiation into a fraternity or paying dues for club membership. The requirement of discipleship is about a whole new way of life that is both countercultural and a radical departure from the prevailing thinking of society. We may discover in fact that we will find ourselves at odds with many persons and be treated with disdain because of our discipleship. For many followers this is the cost of discipleship.
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Becoming a disciple will require that we make a commitment with full knowledge of what is required so that we don’t make the mistake of getting part way down the road only to find that we have not made provision for the full cost, and then like the one who tried to build a tower without the necessary foundation and adequate materials to complete the project. To be sure, we cannot know the way beyond surrendering our own will for the will of God. Rest assured that if we make a full faith commitment to take up our cross and follow Jesus, God will make up for what is lacking. …and then there is the cross Jesus insists that we carry.
But why do we have to carry a cross? Didn’t Jesus already carry the cross to Calvary? True enough, Jesus carried the cross of our sins, and he who knew no sin became our sin and hung them on the cross. But now it is time for us to carry those sins of ours – to own our brokenness and to bear it honestly. This is what is known as the suffering of the present that we bear, St. Paul writes that this makes up for what was lacking in the suffering of Christ. (Colossians 1:24) The other part addressed by Jesus today has to do with what we do with all of our possessions.
To renounce our possessions is to turnover all that we have received from God and place it at the disposal of this road we walk with Jesus to Jerusalem. This is not to make us destitute, but rather share what we have so all have what is needed to make the trip. If we have been given much, much is expected. If we have little, we too will be provided for. Amassing more and more for our own selves does not serve the kingdom. As Fr. Robert remarked last week, surrendering our will makes room for others at the banquet, selfishness makes room only for me. Salvation comes not to the individual alone, but to all in the company of Jesus. Thy kingdom come Thy will be done.
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