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.
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