THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP (HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Homily for the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C. 

Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90:3-4,5-6,12-13,14; Philemon 9b-10,12-17; Luke 14:25-31.

Theme: The Cost of Discipleship.

Central to today's liturgy of the word is the question of the cost of discipleship. What exactly is the cost of discipleship? Following Jesus, is it expensive or cheap? Is everyone who follows Jesus a disciple? Many Christians follow Jesus today, can they rightfully say they understand what the cost of discipleship entails? Are they following blindly or have indeed made the cost of discipleship?

The Gospel begins and we heard it: "Now large crowds were travelling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, 'whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother and wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and even his own life, cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:25-26).

During Jesus' public ministry, often we observe that large crowds follow him. But the scintillating irony was that at the foot of the cross there were only but a few present. Hence, the question: where went the crowd who operated often times as if they were authentically, Jesus' disciples? 

Could it be that the crowd who often followed Jesus, went after him for diverse personal purposes. For instance, the miracles he performed could have been a great source of attraction, after all we are told that he fed the five thousand (5000) with five loaves and two fish (Lk 9:10-17). It could be his preaching ministry, of which we are told as well, his teachings made a significant impression on them because he preached with authority unlike the Scribes and the Pharisees (Lk 4:32). We can not also deny them of their conception of Jesus as a political Messiah. They may have often thought about Jesus as the warrior who would salvage them from their oppressors and restore their territorial independence. However, the question still remains: why were the crowds absent at the foot of the cross despite the followership? This experice is often time perceived even in the modern say religious vocation. In the seminaries and religious institutes, many at the beginning were the candidates but after some years the number becomes drastically low. Why? 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, observing the crowd and their shallow intentions, Jesus said to them: whoever comes to mee and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and even life it self, cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:26-27).

The word "to hate" in Hebrew means "to love less" (cf Gen 29:30-33; Deut 21:15-17). Hence, Jesus implied that we mist love him more than we love our father,  mother, wife , children, brothers and sisters and even our own life. We must love Jesus more than anything else. It is non-negotiable to love Jesus more than our families and our own life even in a conflict situation. The Martyrs gave this exemplary life to us because the loved Jesus more than their own lives, both in life and in death. Hence, they poured their lives as a libation for the foundation of Christian faith. They considered it an honour to die for Christ. 

Friends in Christ, Jesus created us, redeemed with his precious blood on the cross from death to life, made us adopted children of God and co-heirs to the kingdom of God. Therefore, he has claimed us unto himself and the demand for love above everything else is highly justified. 

Jesus further expands his conditions for discipleship by saying: "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). By implication, the cross is the consequence of discipleship. The cross means persecution, suffering,  trial, hardship, undergoing humiliation for the sake of the kingdom of God. It is at variance with desires of the world: power, honour, prestige, glory and wealth etc. Hence, every disciple must carry his or her own cross daily and follow Jesus fervently. 

Beloved in Christ,  Jesus presents to us as he did to the crowds, the need for us to critically consider the cost of becoming his disciples. It is not enough to say to Jesus, Master, I will follow you. Jesus presented before the crowd two parables for a judicious evaluation. The mathematical cost of building a tower prior to starting the foundation otherwise it will end in failure and onlookers would laugh at him or a king's evaluation of the numerical strenght of his ten thousand army prior to going into a war with his adversary who approaches him with twenty thousand army. Otherwise,  he may give up all his possessions in war.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, it is very true that many received the sacrament of baptism as infants based on the faith of the parents or guardians, so as to eradicate the guilt of original sin,  become incorporated into the church and attain the salvation of the kingdom of God. This was the situation most Christians experienced as infants. However, as adults now, there is the need to make that responsible and judicious evaluation of the cost of discipleship. There is the need to critically underscore the intention and disposition of being a Christian? It is high time we discover that we are not called to be Christians simply in name but it has a cost rooted in bearing our crosses and following Jesus? Realizing that our followership or discipleship to Jesus is not for the sake of wealth and glory etc but in witnessing for the kingdom of God via the path of the cross. Consequently, as Christians, the cost of discipleship is a sine qua non (a must do). 

The book of wisdom in the first reading of today acknowledges that wisdom is needed for us to be able to accept  the wisdom of God about the cross. It says and we heard it: "Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your Holy Spirit from on high? And thus the paths of those on earth were set right, and men were taught what pleases you and were saved by wisdom" (Wis.9:17-18). St. Paul in similar fashion says: "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to who are being saved, it is the power of God...a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles" (1Cor 1:18;22-27 ).

Beloved in Christ, God has revealed himself to us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross and resurrection, he has unveiled the plans he has for us right from the foundation of the world. Consequently, in the person of the crucified Christ, the pathway of salvation is achieved. Friends in Christ, we must listen to Jesus, our leader and shepherd, if we must be dairhful Christians and make heaven.

In the Second Reading, we see love in practice, forgiveness, and detachment from material goods. Here, St. Paul wrote to Philemon regarding Onesimus, the latter's slave who had run away from him and whom St. Paul converted and sent back to him. St. Paul says: "Perhaps this is why he has parted from you for a while, that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the blood" (Philem.15-16). Philemon understood what Paul was referring to. Paul was asking him in a veiled way to give him freedom. Probably Philemon granted freedom to Onesimus.

Onesimus, later became the Holy Bishop of Ephesus; demonstrating how the church can effect a change in persons. The name onesimus in Greek means "useful". One who was formerly useless had become useful to you and to me, declared St. Paul (Philemon 11).

Friends in Christ, Christians are useful members of the church and society. Remember,  a Christian who neglects his temporal duties neglects his duties towards his neighbour and even God. A good Christian is also a good citizen.

May God grant us the graciousness to faithfully take up our crosses daily and follow him as authentic disciples, come rain, come shine.

Happy Sunday to you all

Fr Remi osj