Sayings on Discipleship

Today's Reflections

Sayings on Discipleship

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Lk 14:25-33

²⁵Great crowds were traveling with [Jesus], and he turned and addressed them, ²⁶“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. ²⁷Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ²⁸Which 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? ²⁹Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him ³⁰and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ ³¹Or 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? ³²But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. ³³In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection:

My disciple. Jesus presents three requirements in following him.

First, total surrender. We make Jesus first and foremost in our life as we surrender ourselves to him. The word “hate” does not mean loathing or anger and rejection but putting our family in the background or in the second place. Everything and everyone else must take a subordinate role to Jesus.

Second, careful consideration. We have to count the cost of following Jesus and see if we can keep the faith till the end. We must think it over, be serious and firm in our decision so that we can hold on.

Third, renunciation of all material possessions. Jesus asks us to attach ourselves to him and detach ourselves from material things. Jesus is our real treasure. As we turn to Jesus, we must turn our back to our family and possessions.

Besides the above three, what are the characteristics

of a true Christian disciple?

What keeps us from radical discipleship?