Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 14:25-33

 

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “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. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?  Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’  Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?  But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.  In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells his followers that they must surrender everything to be his disciple. The gospel reading actually says, “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.” Hate seems like a very strong word. To hate our mother and father seems to be a violation of one of the Ten Commandments. But in this gospel reading the word hate means to “prefer less.” So why would Jesus use such strong language? Why couldn’t he just say you need to love God more? Jesus used this approach to signify that nothing, absolutely nothing should be held higher and with more importance than God. Everything we have belongs to God and was given to us by God. Jesus’ Father gave him a task to save us from our sins. Jesus knew that this would eventually cost him his life and he was willing to make this ultimate sacrifice for us. We too are called to sacrifice our lives for Christ. We must be willing to give all for our Lord. Jesus says, “In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is telling his disciples that the kingdom of Heaven is theirs if they are willing to make the sacrifice, all you have to do is give up everything. You must be willing to give everything to God. So what do we get in return for this sacrifice? We get eternal communion with God in the next world. We receive eternal joy and happiness that completely overwhelms the body and soul. Joy to a level that you cannot even imagine. Is that not worth the ultimate sacrifice?

 

Every time we hold something back; every time we compromise our morals; every time we justify our sins, we are limiting the resources we need to make it to the narrow gate to the Kingdom of Heaven. Daily sacrifice and prayer are needed to keep us focused on our journey. We should inventory our hearts every day to make sure we have what it takes to make the journey. If we are short, now is the time to ask God for the strength and courage we need to make the journey. We should reflect back on our daily lives to see if we have given everything back to Christ. What is it that we cannot let go? Once we know the road blocks, we can learn to avoid them. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can make it through the shadows of the valley of death.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I have many riches which you have given me,

Give me the strength and the will to give these riches back for your glory.

It is through you that I will see the kingdom of heaven.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon