Readings
Rome 13:8-10
Luke 14:25-33
Reflection
The message of today’s Gospel is that you have to count the cost if you are going to be a disciple of Christ. You have to know that the price is the one you can afford. The context of Luke’s words is that they are written to his community at a time of persecution. It is highly unlikely that Jesus said, ‘take up your cross and follow me,’ because the cross had not happened yet. Such a statement would have made no sense to Jesus’ followers, as the cross for them meant a shameful death as a criminal, at the hands of the Romans. None of Jesus’ followers would have understood these words because Jesus had not yet died on the cross. But Luke’s community, some 60 years after Jesus, knew about the Cross, and now, facing persecution themselves, would have well understood the words, ‘take up your cross and follow me.’
In a country like Australia, we don’t have to face the stark reality of persecution. We face other challenges to the practice of our faith in a secular environment. There still is a cost involved, but not a threat to our lives. Perhaps because we live in a very lucky country and are not used to blatant persecution, the requirements of witnessing openly to our faith, possibly drawing criticism on insults, frightens us. Things could change for the worse in the future. We cannot know this. The call of today’s Gospel is to reflect on what is the price that we are called to pay in our present context if we want to be Christ’s disciples, and to pray that God give us the inner resources and courage to pay that price.
Fr. Ray Sanchez CP is the leader of the Oxley community and is responsible for Parish Missions and Retreats throughout Australia and NZ.Â