It is a challenging reply
because Jesus’ very first statement seems to call us to hate the very people we
love. We are to “hate” our father, mother, wife, children, brothers and
sisters, even our very self or we cannot be a disciple. And if this is not
enough if we truly want to be a disciple must carry our own crosses. With
condition such as these my questions is “Why be a disciple?”
Jesus then offers us two
short parables to finish off the discussion. If you are going to build a tower,
you’d better have enough materials to finish or else. If you are going to wage
war then you’d better have enough soldiers to win, or else. Luke finishes this
chapter with two verses that are not included in today Gospel. Jesus talks
about salt losing its flavor and when it does it gets thrown out. He ends by
reminding all who have ears better be listening.
Hating those we love and
carrying our crosses are not really attractive qualities to strive for from my
perspective. Does Jesus really say to “hate?” It seems so. “Hating” is the
exact Greek word Luke uses. Throughout the Gospels Jesus puts a lot of emphasis
on loving and being loved. Next Sunday’s Gospel will relate a great story about
family love. So why the focus on “hating” today?
The Kingdom, the Banquet,
the discipleship that we are invited to by Jesus is the wisdom that we hear
about in our first reading today from the Book of Wisdom. All relationships of
love are gifts from God and they are not meant to make gods out of those whom
we love. How are we ever going to build our relationship with Jesus by loving
God above all other relationships and also carrying crosses? It is the
“puzzlement” question; and the answer is “wisdom”.
How are we going to build
a tower successfully or be on the victorious side of a battle or war when we
feel insufficient? The challenge Jesus puts before us today is to trust in the
generosity and mercy of God. The challenge is to not lose our flavor, our
purpose, our meaning and to listen, hear and have faith in our relationship
with God. Our crosses are many but Jesus is there to carry them with us. Our
family relationships are important and life giving but only when God sits at
the center of them. In facing the at times, overwhelming challenges, the
struggles, the crosses of life we need to ask ourselves; do we have enough, do
enough, and pray enough, so as to win!
Following Jesus is not
measurable. Each of us is given our own flavor, our own wisdom which allows us
to keep our ears and hearts open to God’s invitation. None of us can love well
enough. We can never do enough, feel enough, forgive enough, but as disciple we
keep living and loving as best we can and that keeps us from losing our flavor.
We cannot be perfect in following Jesus, but we cannot give up on life either,
just because we are not doing it well enough. Being generous is the gift of
Wisdom which helps us to build a right relationship with God, win the battles
of life, and carry our crosses out of love.
Have a blessed Sunday
everyone!
Daily
Prayer:
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a
dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow,
overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a
tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.” (Prayer by St. Teresa of Kolkata)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “A lot of people say they love running because of how they
feel afterward. Not me. Well, I love that, too, but it's also so much fun while
I'm out there.” (Dick Beardsley) So to in the spiritual life…
Daily
Blessing: Sunday
blessings and greetings to all. I hope your last Sunday of the summer season
has started off well and that you are enjoying a beautiful day wherever you
are. The sun is out here in Pelham, there is a nice breeze I think it is going
to be a beautiful day though they continue to say a storm is coming.
If you
got up at 4:30 am to watch the canonization of St. Teresa of Kolkata I hope is
was an inspiring experience for you and that you will get a little rest at some
point during the day. I will head out about 11:00 am for the noon mass at St.
John and St. Mary’s Parish in Chappaqua. I truly enjoy my opportunities to
celebrate with a community on Sundays there is something very life giving for
me to lead a community in prayer and the sacramental life. I hope you will be
giving God a little time today?
Whatever
you are doing this Labor Day weekend, relaxing, watching football, working,
traveling, vacationing or just being I pray that God’s blessing will be upon
your Sunday filling it with the richness of joy, hope and the goodness of God’s
presence. May you be strong and fear not today because your God is here! Peace
in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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