September 8, 2019: Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year C.

Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18; Phlm. 9-10; Lk 14:25-33.

The Cost of Discipleship

If Christ had a job as public relations director in a Company, he would have failed woefully. Few persons would have been convinced, in my opinion, to buy any of the products he would offer for sale. He would also be the most truthful PR person in history. As a spiritual leader Christ never promised anyone a comfortable life. He warned his followers of the danger they would face by identifying with him. To his would-be follower he said: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Matt. 8:20). To his disciples he said: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk. 9:23). The cost of discipleship is enormous indeed!

To show how perilous his mission was, Christ was arrested in the garden at night, tortured and subjected to a ridiculous kangaroo court, a travesty of justice indeed! He was condemned and dragged out on the street like a criminal in the heat of the afternoon with a large cross on his shoulder. He was hungry, thirsty and weak. He was nailed to the cross and left hanging there to the jeer and contempt of all and allowed to die a shameful death amidst two robbers. “…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth…He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that free from sin, we might live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:21-22; 24).  “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13). “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first” (Jn. 15:18). Isn’t it funny that all but one his apostles were martyred?

Today’s Gospel has not painted a pleasant picture either: “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” (Lk. 14:26-27). To be a disciple of Christ, therefore, one must necessarily choose Christ always. It calls for Christians to adopt a standard of living that is different from that of the world.

In the second reading, St. Paul asked Philemon to forgive Onesimus, his slave, who had defrauded him and ran away. Onesimus met and assisted Paul in prison. Through this encounter, Onesimus was converted to the faith. Paul therefore, urged Philemon to take Onesimus back not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. “So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me”. We cannot, on our own do what is humanly impossible, follow the way of the cross. Hence the first reading enjoins us to seek divine wisdom. “Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight” (Wisdom 9:13-18).

 These readings make it explicitly clear that it costs not less than everything to be a disciple of Jesus. We must ask ourselves these questions and answer them sincerely to ourselves: Do I have what it takes to follow Christ? What am I prepared to give up? What is the Cross in my life that I must carry and follow Christ daily? We must choose Christ above and beyond all else: you must love yourself less and Jesus more. Therefore, one must surrender oneself to God at all times. It is an unquestionable acceptance of God’s will. For the cost of discipleship is enormous indeed, it costs not less than everything. Down through the ages, men and women have given their all to follow Christ. They sacrificed everything, gave up parents, families, brothers, sisters, even their lives. Yes, whoever wants to be my disciple must hate his very self or the person is not worthy of me. 

The disciple must possess some basic qualities like, be a good listener and a good follower and a lover of people. He must know that it is all about Christ not the self. This is a total self-giving and saying ‘yes’ totally and completely to God, like our Mother, Mary, “let it be done to me according to your word”.

Dear friends these are the cost that must be calculated and the resources that must be expended. Being a true disciple is tough. It is hard work that must be carefully planned and assiduously executed. On our own it will be an impossible task to undertake, but with God all things are possible. And so the first reading encouraged us to seek the wisdom of God. Having a healthy prayer life, being faithful and committed to our sacramental life, giving in charity, coming to the aid of those in need and struggling to conquer ourselves are a step in the right direction. These are the planning that we must undertake, the mansion we must build or the war we must fight and the preparation we must make. May God help us with his grace and wisdom to do what is right and good before him. Amen.