Today’s Gospel Luke 14:25-33
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,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
Today’s Gospel Reflection
In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus addresses the large crowds following Him, offering a profound meditation on the demands of true discipleship. He uses strong language, saying that to be His disciple, one must ‘hate’ family and even one’s own life, not out of animosity, but to emphasize the radical priority of loving God above all earthly ties. This ‘hate’ is a Semitic expression meaning to love less by comparison, inviting us to place Christ at the center of our existence.
Jesus illustrates this with two parables: the builder who calculates the cost before constructing a tower, lest he face ridicule for starting what he cannot finish, and the king who assesses his army’s strength before battle, opting for peace if outmatched. These examples teach us the wisdom of discernment in our commitment to faith. Discipleship requires counting the cost, renouncing possessions not necessarily by poverty, but by detachment, holding them loosely so they do not hinder our walk with God.
The key teaching here is that following Jesus demands total surrender. It is not a casual adherence but a deliberate choice to carry our cross daily, embracing sacrifice with joy. In our busy lives, this calls us to evaluate our priorities: Are we building on the solid foundation of Christ? Do we seek peace through surrender to His will?
Let this Gospel encourage you to deepen your devotion. Jesus invites us not to fear the cost, but to find life in letting go. Take a moment today to pray: Lord, help me renounce what holds me back and follow You wholeheartedly. Amen. 🙏
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