Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

 Wisdom of Solomon 9: 13-18b

 Indeed, who can know the intentions of God? Who can discern the plan of the Lord?

For human reasoning is timid, our notions misleading;   a perishable body is a burden for the soul and our tent of clay weighs down the active mind. We are barely able to know about the things of earth and it is a struggle to understand what is close to us; who then may hope to understand heavenly things?

 Who has ever known your will un­less you first gave him Wisdom and sent down your holy spirit to him?  In this way you directed the human race on the right path; they learned what pleases you and were saved by Wisdom.

 

 ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Philemon 9-10, 12-17

yet I pre­fer to request you in love. The one talk­ing is Paul, the old man, now prisoner for Christ.   And my request is on behalf of Onesimus, whose father I have become while I was in prison.

In re­turning him to you, I am sending you my own heart.   I would have liked to keep him at my side, to serve me on your behalf while I am in prison for the Gospel,   but I did not want to do anything without your agreement, nor impose a good deed upon you without your free consent.

Perhaps Onesimus has been parted from you for a while so that you may have him back forever,  no longer as a slave, but better than a slave. For he is a very dear brother to me, and he will be even dearer to you.  And so, because of our friendship, receive him as if he were I myself.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 14: 25-33

 One day, when large crowds were walking along with Jesus, he turned and said to them,   “If you come to me, unwilling to sacrifice your father and mother, your spouse and children, your brothers and sisters, and indeed yourself, you cannot be my disciple.   Whoever does not follow me carrying his own cross cannot be my disciple.

Do you build a house without first sitting down to count the cost to see whether you have enough to complete it?   Otherwise, if you have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone will make fun of you:  ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

 And when a king wages war against another king, does he go to fight without first sitting down to consider whether his ten thousand can stand against the twenty thousand of his opponent?  And if not, while the other is still a long way off he sends messengers for peace talks. In the same way, none of you may become my disciple if he doesn’t give up everything he has.

 

Reflection gospel：

READ: the author of the Book of Wisdom writes that through Wisdom humans are directed to the right path, learn what pleases God, and are saved. Saint Paul would not keep Onesimus at his side; and because of friendship, he gave him back. In the gospel narrative, Jesus identified the cost of following him.

REFLECT: God sent Jesus to enact his saving plan, to establish his reign of love and mercy, and to restore humanity and the rest of creation back to him so that we may enjoy an “abundant” life and creation reach its fulfilment. This is God’s generosity and goodness in action. But to receive the full benefit of his generosity and goodness, there is a condition that must be satisfied, that is, the following of Jesus. And it does not come without cost. The decision to follow Jesus entails giving-up of that which is most important to us and the willingness to place one’s self in an uncomfortable situation. It is a free decision we take because God has opened our eyes to his love. Just like Wisdom which gives right direction, the following of Jesus leads us to the heart of God.

PRAY: Gracious God, help us follow the example and teachings of Jesus so that we can direct our lives to what is genuinely good and valuable.

ACT: Critically evaluate thoughts and actions. Do they bring us closer to God? Are they aligned with gospel values?