“WHOEVER DOES NOT FOLLOW ME, CARRYING HIS OWN CROSS, CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.”

there are many of us who strive to follow Jesus get weakened in the face of our life’s crosses.

God won’t give us what we can’t bear. Besides, are the sacrifices demanded of us more than his,

who gave up everything for our sake?

 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Romans 13:8-10

Do not be in debt to anyone.

Let this be the only debt of one to another: Love. The one who loves his or her neighbor fulfills the Law. For the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not covet and whatever else are summarized in this one: You will love your neighbor as yourself. Love cannot do the neighbor any harm; so love fulfills the whole Law. 

 

Ps 112:1b-2, 4-5,9

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

 

＊＊＊＊ 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, without being ready to give up your love for 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.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"To love without limit." 

Today we are again faced with readings that don't seem to agree with each other. Paul speaks of love for others as the fulfillment of the law, while Jesus tells his followers that they must be willing to sacrifice their love for those closest to them if they wish to be his disciples. How can we understand these readings?

 

In fact, both readings are calling us to the same thing: to love without limit, the way that Jesus loves us. That love is unconditional and expansive. It is not insular, limited only to those closest to us. It is easy to love those who love us and who will be able to reciprocate any kindness. But, like Jesus, we are called to love those who are least lovable, those who cannot reciprocate our love, and even those who may not appreciate our kindness. But Jesus calls us to give of ourselves, even if we receive nothing in return.