This Sunday, September 7, is the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. The theme for the readings is the cost of discipleship. Jesus tells us we must pick up our cross and follow him as disciples. Let’s take a look.
Gospel Text
“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, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.“
Reading 1 – Wisdom 9:13-18b
The first reading for this Sunday reflects on the limits of human understanding and our dependency on God’s wisdom to discern His will. Our minds are cluttered with day-to-day concerns, earthly concerns. We can never understand God’s will without His wisdom, which is a gift to us. God invites us to seek His wisdom daily, not just in crisis.
Reading 2 – Philemon 9:10, 12-17
Paul is writing from prison about Onesimus, an enslaved person who became a believer. Paul is writing to Philemon, a Christian leader in the city of Colossae. He sends Onesimus back to Philemon and urges that he be treated like Paul and not the former slave he was before. Paul’s focus on Onesimus’ spiritual identity as opposed to his past identity as a slave is a call to see others by their place in God’s family.
Gospel Reading – Counting the Cost of Discipleship – Luke 14:25-33
This can be a difficult reading. Jesus is not speaking literally about hating your mother and father. He is talking about allegiance to Him. Jesus is saying:
“Your love for Me must surpass every other loyalty—even family, comfort, and self-preservation.”
Jesus gives us two analogies:
- A man building a tower must calculate the cost before starting to ensure he has the resources to finish it.
- A king going to war must evaluate his strengths before going into battle against the enemy. He must seek peace if he does not have the resources to fight.
Jesus is looking for thoughtful and total commitment to Him. Following Him is a life-altering decision. It may cost relationships, possessions, and comfort. He doesn’t want part-time followers; He wants people who give Him their hearts and are “all in” with Him. The expression “carry your cross” isn’t symbolic. It means embracing suffering, sacrifice, and obedience. It is “dying” to your old life and being reborn in Christ.
Please share your thoughts on this article in the “Comments” section.
Peace
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