Sayings on Discipleship
http://graceandspace.org
Lk 14:25-33
25Great crowds were traveling with [Jesus], and he turned and addressed them, 26“If
any- one 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:
If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother.
Jesus tells the crowds, in a Hebraic way, that they must prefer him to
anyone dear to them—father and mother, wife and children, brothers and
sisters—and even to their own selves if they want to be his disciples.
Jesus demands unrivalled priority in our hearts. He can require this
because he is not only a man or messiah but in fact the Son of God, true
God.
Do
we give Christ the number one and unrivalled place in our hearts? Is
there something or someone in our lives that competes for first place
against Christ? Are we truly willing to renounce everything, if need be,
for the Lord’s sake?
Our
first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, whose feast we
celebrate this month, was asked by the Japanese authorities, “Therefore,
if we grant your life, will you renounce your faith?” He replied, “That
I will never do, because I am a Christian, and I shall die for God, and
for him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them.” He died a
most painful death for Christ.
San Lorenzo Ruiz died for Christ.
Will you live for Christ?
No comments:
Post a Comment