THE DISCIPLE'S CROSS

REFLECTION FOR 23RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME - C

THEME: THE DISCIPLE'S CROSS

R1: Wis 9:13-18

R2: Philemon 9-10, 12-17

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

For many centuries, the cross has been a symbol of shame, humiliation and torture. Its bearers were those who have been condemned to die in a very shameful and degrading manner.  To show that this is true of the cross, the very author of our faith was made to undergo similar experience. Having died a shameful death on the cross to bring us life, Christ encourages us to come to him, that he will give us rest (Mt 11:28).

With this promising words of Christ, we freely make a choice through our sacramental baptism to follow and become His disciples since we are assured of rest. It is very surprising that today, Christ instead of giving immediately  the rest He has promised, makes  difficult demands from his followers. To be a follower of mine, He says, you must:

1. Hate father, mother, brothers and sisters.

2. Hate you your life

3. Carry your cross

4. Give up all possessions (Lk 14:25,33).

These words of Jesus sound very scary and impracticable. Is Christ anti-family? Why is he saying we must hate our family members? Is he saying one should kill oneself  before being His disciples, is that not crazy?  Did he not promise he will make our burdens easy? So why not help us carry the cross instead of saying we should carry our cross? Why is he being unfriendly with riches? Is he encouraging poverty?

The first reading supplies an immediate answer to these troubling questions that flow from the demands of Chirst. Friends and lovers of God, *"No one can discern the mind of God."* (Wis 9:13). Following our human reasoning,  these demands of Jesus are insensible. However,  the wisdom of God is incomparable. It is through the wisdom of God that we can understand that what Jesus is demanding is more than a human speculation. This explains also, why  the cross which in human understanding is a thing of shame becomes a thing of joy and victory in the eyes of God and His elect (Col 2:6-19).

From His benevolence, God freely allows us to have an experience of His wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit, poured on us a Confirmation, when we no longer become just listeners but preachers of the truth of the immensity of God's wisdom in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Hence, Jesus in the Gospel, is demanding that our relationship with God should make us *THINK LESS* of the world and think more of our candidacy to heaven.  It is an invitation to make a conscious decision on our part. Such decision demands a change of mind, heart and soul. These qualify a true disciple.

To hate family members,  life and  wealth, Jesus is saying that true discipleship demands a total renunciation of  old ties; those who may hinder our movement to heaven,  including family members and friends, selfish desires that may be called enjoyment in the eyes of the world and those things that will take our minds away from God, including material possessions.  Jesus is making a demand of our spiritual fortification; the cross experience where one may look stupid in the eyes of the world but wise in the eyes of God. It is a call to go above the normal. 

Hence, Christ is inviting everyone who wants to be a disciple to rise above the human way of acting and to act in a supernatural (i.e. beyond the normal) way. It is a demand of a little elevation above what everyone sees as normal. It is a call to seeing and acting in a different way from the common. Doing this may present us as stupid in the eyes of the world just as the cross of Christ looks stupid to those who do not follow His way.

His demand is not that we should not be humans, No. We should be humans but function and see things according to the mind of God, just as St Paul in the Second Reading encourages Philemon to see Onesimus (a converted slave of Philemon) as a brother. For everyone, a slave should be treated as a less human and in a degrading way. But St Paul told Philemon to have a different way of treating his slave and consider him as part of himself. This demand of St Paul requires a  spiritual concern. The world may act in certain way that may oppose God's will, however, every follower of God should rise above that normal. This invitation to rise above the normal demands a break from any form of barrier. It is an invitation to do something more or to go an extra mile. 

In this present time, the world seem to be more interested in what makes someone happy or what will please everyone than doing the will of God. Jesus is inviting us to be careful and to break away from those things and  those people that may attempt to separate from the love of God. This is the implication of rising above the normal. It is making a step further, going beyond the common way of the world. He is not saying the world and family are not important rather our focus should be more on God and that we should be disposed to let go of the most treasured thing if that becomes a hindrance to our followership and candidacy to heaven. This is a challenging gospel. However, we are sure that carrying this cross faithfully will lead us to our final destination; heaven. 

Peace be with you.

Homily by 

Rev Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.