Look before you leap
People who want to get ahead in life keep looking forward to the future. They reflect, they consult, they plan, and they evaluate their methods, taking nothing for granted. This is, or ought to be, the attitude of Christians. They know that the Christian life is serious. They do not take their faith for granted. They ask themselves: What is God’s will and plan for me, today, in my state of life? Where am I going? Am I following Christ my Lord the way he wants me to? Do I identify with him? Do I make myself free from the things that keep me from following him? And do I follow him also when the cost is high?
Our all too human search is incapable of discovering God’s will and plans, unless God gives us the insights of his own wis¬dom. We must pray for a spirit of wisdom.
Jesus went all the way to the cross. True wisdom and prudence are not afraid of taking the risk of following him resolutely.
First Reading: Wisdom 9:13-19
How does the mind of God work? Who can follow the directions from the Lord’s recipe? Our reasoning processes are cumbersome; our philosophical constructs are complicated; our bodies grind the soul down; our existence messes the mind up. It’s hard to make sense out of what’s going on in the world; harder still to understand what’s happening right under our noses. As for what’s in the heavens, who’ll figure it out? Who’ll know what your counsel might be? We won’t, unless you send your divine spirit by sharing Wisdom with us. How else will you keep us on the straight and narrow? Lady Wisdom has helped us know your pleasure throughout history.
Second Reading: Philemon 9-10,12-17
As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.
While here in jail, I’ve fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he’s useful to both of us. I’m sending him back to you, but it feels like I’m cutting off my right arm in doing so. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I’m in jail for the Message. But I didn’t want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn’t willingly agreed to.
Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That’s what he was to me—he’ll be even more than that to you.
So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account.
Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.
“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
“Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?
“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.
Prayer
God our Father,
we have accepted your invitation
to follow your Son Jesus as his disciples.
Let your Spirit give us the wisdom and strength
to take our faith seriously
and to accept our task in life
with all its consequences.
Let the Spirit help us to go your Son’s way
without fear or discouragement,
for we are certain Jesus will lead us to you,
our loving God for ever and ever. Amen.
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