Homily of Wednesday 31st week in the Ordinary Time Year B.
Theme: Cost of Discipleship
Ref: Phil 2: 12-18; Luke 14: 25-33
Dear friends, if the first part of today’s Gospel is taken out of context, it will be grossly misunderstood. How can the condition for following Jesus be hatred? ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple.’ This challenging call invites us to put God above all else, even our closest relationships.
It was Ben Sirach who said “My child, if you want to serve the Lord, be ready for an ordeal.’ (Sirach 2:1). Yesterday, we heard of those who were invited to the banquet originally giving a series of excuses and, hence, ignored the banquet for other engagements. No one who lays his or her hands on the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom.
Just as we cannot embark on a project without proper planning to know the pros and cons, there is also a need for proper evaluation of the self before concluding whether to serve God or not. Becoming a disciple or serving God involves giving up all. Are we ready to give up all for the service of God and humanity? Jesus does not say you should hate everyone to become disciples but that you should leave off everything that will distract you from serving him, everything that will distract you from becoming a true disciple.
Friends, today we are called to re-evaluate our lives. We are called to cut off every distraction to focus on our Christian calling. Nothing should make us give excuses of any sort not to attend to the invitation of Christ. We are called to be perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood.
May God help us to be firm and persevering looking up to him without giving in to distractions. Amen.
Peace
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