Word to the Wise
Sunday, September 4, 2016 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - C
[Wis 9:13-18b; Phlm 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33]"If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple...In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple." [Luke]
The proclamation of Mother Teresa of Kolkata as a saint of the church puts these words of Jesus in stark relief. Could anyone gainsay her holiness and her dedication to taking care of the most rejected people in the world? She has inspired millions of people, Christian and otherwise. She shows us the possibilities of discipleship. This is important because many would say that Jesus' words are not possible in our world, or that they represent an "ideal" that we strive for but will probably not even come close to.
Scripture scholars tell us that the word "hate" is meant in this context as "loving less" - i.e. loving something more than Jesus. This makes sense when we realize that Jesus' preaching is consistently directed at eliminating "hate" in the world. However, that still leaves us with the challenge of asking just how much priority does discipleship have in our lives. I can remember when, years ago, I read the now classic book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, and his blunt warnings about "cheap grace." Christian discipleship demands a certain priority and Jesus has to be at the top of the list. Indeed, he expects 100% of us.
How can this be realized in the midst of competing expectations - family, careers, health? It takes effort - daily effort. But C.S. Lewis reminds us that Christian discipleship has to be either the most important thing or not important at all. The one thing it cannot be is "moderately important." AMEN
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