8 November 2023 | Wednesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel Lk 14:25-33
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
"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.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple."
Reflections:
Jesus emphasizes that following Him must take precedence over all other relationships and priorities, even to the point of seeming to "hate" family and one's own life. This strong language emphasizes the important role of commitment and dedication in discipleship. He challenges us to seriously consider the cost of following Jesus. It's a call to be willing to endure hardships for the sake of the Gospel, It's a call to prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else, and being prepared to endure hardship for the sake of the Gospel. It's a reminder that discipleship is not to be taken lightly, and one must be willing to give up everything for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
Activity:
Make a conscious effort to prioritize your relationship with God over worldly possessions, ambitions, and relationships.
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