September 8, 2013

Bulletin September 8, 2013
23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Wisdom 9:13-18; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33
I have heard so many expressions with regard to wisdom: ‘There is a wise person’; ‘That person is wise in the ways of the world’; ‘This person always gives good advice, they must be connected to God’. It seems one of the most needed prayers for all people is to ask our all-wise and all-knowing God for the gift of wisdom. No one can stand and say, ‘I know all about the mind of God, I know all of what God wants’. Yet there is even a more elusive truth in that each person God created is called to live according to God’s will. So I come to today’s readings asking what is God saying to me and how do I grow closer to the Lord?
The Book of Wisdom is Solomon reflecting on the advantages of what faith in God is all about. Its substance is that he offers a very deep and sincere prayer to God asking Him to grant him the gift of wisdom. What is beautiful about this book is that Solomon looks at the flawed thinking of people around him who think that living is about living here in this world and has nothing to do with the hereafter, nothing to do with being with God forever; nothing to do with the spiritual dimension of each person’s life. The people around him believed that one’s death ended it all so richness in life means acquiring all the riches that one can in this life. Solomon says that life reaches far beyond the realm that we live in...lasting treasures come with a right relationship with God. He says that no one can understand the mysteries of the physical world so how can one begin to understand the mysteries of God. How important this is for me and each person trying to live as a Christian. So often I’m in ‘my own little world’ and ‘I’m supreme’ in my little world. But this is the world of shadows and doubts; of hopes and fears; of confidence and being totally lost. It is the world of some certainty and more searching through the ‘thick clouds of my daily life.’ The object of each Christian is to attach oneself to the wisdom of Solomon and the wise ones down through the ages, and most especially to Jesus to find “each one’s way through life without being so distracted by the ‘good things of this world’ that I fail to see the goodness of God, the source of those gifts.” (St. Anthony Messenger Press)
In the Gospel, Luke zeroes in on Jesus telling each person what is the meaning of discipleship. First of all, like Solomon, one must sit down and reflect on it, it isn’t something that comes ‘from osmosis’. There is a commitment in being a disciple...am I going to say YES all the way or am I not? Am I going to say that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life or am I going to say, ‘I’m going to do it my way, I don’t need to worry about it being right? So Jesus starts right off, “If anyone come to me without hating his father...even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross....cannot be my disciple...anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” There is no hiding in these words...they are blunt...they are meant for me...they are meant for each person. What do they mean?
To be a real disciple of Jesus, and one not in name only, requires a clear focus and commitment. As Dianne Bergant and Rev. James Wallace, say in Living the Word, “Jesus explains the cost of discipleship. He insists on three conditions for true discipleship. (1) His followers must subordinate everything to commitment to Him, even the closest family ties. (2) They must also be willing to bear the suffering that following Him will entail. The burden will differ from person to person, but the requirement is the same—wholehearted commitment. (3) Finally, they will be called on to relinquish all their possessions. Total commitment to Jesus requires the willingness to give up the comfort and security of a stable family life, as well as the willingness to spend time alone has on that venture. Whoever cannot make such a wholehearted commitment cannot be His disciple.” Is this what Jesus is demanding of me? Yes! Is this what Jesus is demanding of each person? Yes! The thought comes, ‘this is too hard...I guess I’ll just try as best as I can and take my chances. Is this enough? No!
So we look deeper into Jesus’ words: The word, ‘hate’ does not imply the emotion generally associated with this. To hate in this case means ‘to prefer it less.’ So preferring to go to a ball game with my brother-in-law and miss mass isn’t ok. Another saying to ‘renounce’. In Luke possessions are more than material things; also included are power and pleasure. So we have power...possessions...pleasure. These all take up a good time of one’s life in acquiring them and maintaining them. These definitely are a distraction to Jesus who emphasizes the faith opposites of these: prayer vs. power ... almsgiving vs. possessions ...pleasure vs. fasting. And this all involves suffering...real suffering...Jesus’ whole life pointed to the Cross and the Resurrection that followed. Each person’s life is the way of their crosses leading them to the complete and total joy of heaven. Again, Living the Word concludes, “We are getting into the most radical commitment of our lives—to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are committing to Him and His mission to bring new life to the world, and to bring all our relationships into our life in Him. We commit to work at having that mind in us that was in Christ Jesus.”
So I reflect on:

• Do I love and trust Jesus enough to follow Him daily?
  
• Discipleship is to pick up my cross and follow Jesus. Now do I list all my crosses? Am I willing to ask Jesus to help me with them? Are there any of my crosses associated with power, possessions or pleasure that I want to hang on to? Why?
  
• “Does this Scripture passage really mean that you must hate your parents and family before you can follow Jesus? Might it mean that Jesus must come first before anything or anyone? How am I doing in this?”
  
• “The following of Jesus should not be mindless. The disciples are to think about what it entails. It is like building a tower, constructing a connection between heaven and earth. What will it take to finish it?...How will this uphill battle be sustained?” If I’m afraid, what am I asking the Lord for? I’m never alone.
  

Jerome Sabatowich, a religious educator gives a great reflective conclusion: “Francis of Assisi knew what dedicating one’s self to God really meant. Francis’ famous prayer begins ‘Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; and where there is sadness, joy.” Do you allow God to work through you, bringing His peace, love, joy, and forgiveness to your family and friends?”