Wisdom 9:13-18b
Who can know God's counsel,
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind
that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17
R./ In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of men."
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R./ In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R./ In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R./ In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R./ In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
I, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
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,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple."
Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and all good.
Last week we saw the Lord dining with one of the leaders of the Pharisees. He invited us not to take the first places and to act out of pure generosity, without expecting any reward for our deeds. To live at every moment only to bring joy to those who need your help and service.
Today, in the first reading, we meet the great figure of Solomon, one of the greatest kings in the history of Israel. When faced with the difficult task of governing the people, he shows the humility to admit that he is just a man, like anyone else, with his own limitations. He knows he can be wrong in his reasoning, and that his motivations, when making decisions, are not always clear and pure. He is aware that he cannot just do whatever he wants, because he believes in God. Above all, this means taking God into account in every decision he must make. In other words: constantly asking himself what God’s will is for him.
Surely, a man feels weak and fragile when trying to carry out God’s plans. How can I know and fulfill God’s desire? The Book of Wisdom says: “Who can know your counsel unless you give wisdom and send your Holy Spirit from on high?” Yet the believer knows that God will help him once again with His grace. He knows God has always enlightened and guided him with His wisdom. God can also help us today. That’s why we constantly ask Him for the gift of wisdom: “Send her down from heaven.” We know this prayer is effective. God’s answer is certain: the Incarnation, the Word made flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Wisdom took flesh in the person of Jesus, with a human face. He entered our history, inviting us to give up everything in order to reach full union with God. Jesus is the gentle and radiant Wisdom given to us from above.
In the second reading, we see Paul as an old man under house arrest, helped by a runaway slave. This slave has been very helpful to Paul; they connected well, and Paul grew fond of him, even calling him “my own child.” But Paul asks God what he should do with this slave, what is best for him and for his master. He discerns, he prays, and then makes a difficult decision: to let him go, to send him back, and to ask his master to treat him differently (which was very unusual in those days).
Paul leaves it up to Philemon to decide whether to keep him or send him back. In this way, Paul not only frees Onesimus from slavery but also asks Philemon for something even greater: to welcome Onesimus no longer as a slave, but “as a beloved brother” to be loved in the Lord. Through Paul’s love, Onesimus has become for Philemon a true brother, alive and carrying a treasure that will never perish. The point is not to have Onesimus just for temporary benefit, but “so that you may have him back forever.”
So, we see two great figures who constantly ask about God’s will and who try to bring their faith into everything they decide and do each day.
As Christians we often pray the Our Father, and there we say: “Your will be done.” We admire Mary of Nazareth, who after hearing God’s Word could say: “Let it be done to me according to your Word.” In our time, we may have to admit that we rarely ask about God’s will for us. And even less often do we apply it without conditions.
Too many of our brothers and sisters think that being Christian just means “being a good person.” It’s easy to hear people say: “Look, I don’t steal, I don’t kill, I don’t cheat on my spouse, so why go to confession?” They are convinced that not doing wrong and helping others a little is enough. But being “good people” is something anyone can do. You don’t need to be a Christian, or even believe in God, to be “decent.” And what’s more: the Gospel never says you must be Christian to “go to heaven.”
Notice that today’s Gospel says that “large crowds were traveling with Jesus.” But Jesus, who never looked for crowds or numbers, turns and tells them three very demanding conditions about family, the cross, and possessions. The parables in today’s Gospel teach us that Christian wisdom is to come to Jesus “renouncing all that you have,” as Luke says: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even their own life, such a person cannot be my disciple.” This is what is required to follow Jesus.
Because He is the Son of God, Jesus demands “all your heart, all your strength.” Nothing can come before this love. Jesus wants to be loved as the only love, the only treasure, and the only goal that fills the heart. Whoever does not “renounce all he has” cannot be His disciple. This includes everything we possess: not only material goods, but also our closest relationships. At its core, Christian wisdom is all about detaching from anything that takes us away from God, so we can truly live our calling as disciples.
We must ask ourselves if we are really willing to let go of everything and expect all our strength only from God, letting Him take charge of our whole life. Letting go doesn’t mean running away into the desert. It simply means opening our hands and releasing anything we cling to as “mine,” so we can offer it all to the Lord. That’s why today’s readings put us in front of the same theme: surrendering ourselves to God. We often ask: Who can know God’s will? Or: How can we know what God wants from us? Today’s readings tell us that we can only know God’s intentions if we have wisdom. And to receive wisdom, we must give up everything to follow Jesus. The wisdom the Lord teaches us is simply this: to follow Him. Nothing more. We must free ourselves, strip ourselves, let go of everything we thought we owned, sell all we have, carry no money, not even have a stone to rest our head, and not be bound by family ties.
The disciple’s guarantee is to go to Jesus having nothing. True wisdom is carrying no weight that slows us down on the way after Him. Put positively, it means carrying only one weight: the cross of Jesus. And the weight of the cross is the weight of His love. It’s not about calculations, about counting stones to build a tower or soldiers to win a battle. That’s not the Lord’s point. To be a disciple means choosing the Lord above everything, choosing Him again each day, and offering Him our whole life. The gift of wisdom, which we must constantly ask for, allows us to give ourselves completely, freely, and transparently to this love. Whoever has been conquered by this love no longer fears anything from God. Love drives out all fear. Nothing can scare us anymore.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro, C.M.F.
The Lord comes among us
and calls us to follow him without conditions.
May we listen to his call
and may he always be with you. R/ And also with you.
Conscious Discipleship
At first sight it looks contradictory that on the one hand Jesus presents his message and even himself as an invitation, a free offer that we can either accept or reject; and on the other hand as a strict demand. Today’s gospel sheds light on this paradox: Yes, what he offers us is a present, and no one is forced to accept it. We remain free, but if we accept it, it will be demanding. Jesus and his kingdom are to be put above even our dearest relationships and desires. So, we have to think twice before we accept. But we must know that with him and by his strength we can answer his call, however difficult, and we will be happy. He gives us that invitation and strength in this Eucharist.
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?
Let us ask pardon from the Lord
for not always having had the courage
to follow him all the way.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, if we do not learn
to carry your cross with you
we cannot be your disciples.
Lord, give us courage.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, if we are not willing
to go with you all the way
we cannot be your disciples:
Christ, give us your strength.
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, unless we are willing to give up
all that we are attached to,
we cannot be your disciples.
Lord, give us your liberating power.
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, in your patient mercy
forgive us our cowardice and our sins.
Journey with us on the road
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Let us pray for God’s Spirit
that we may follow Jesus consistently
(pause)
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. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Wis 9:13-18): We Need the Holy Spirit of Wisdom
Our all too human search is incapable of discovering God’s will and plans, unless God gives us the insights of his own wisdom. We must pray for a spirit of wisdom.
Second Reading (Phil 9b-10,12-17): In Christ, a Slave Becomes a Brother
In this short, sensitive letter, Paul asks his friend Philemon to reaccept his runaway slave as he would receive Paul himself. In Christ, this slave has become a brother.
Gospel (Lk 14:25-33): Have We Made Up Our Minds to Follow Christ?
Jesus went all the way to the cross. True wisdom and prudence are not afraid of taking the risk of following him resolutely.
Let us pray to Jesus our Lord that we may be disciples who follow him resolutely, and let us say: R/ Lord, be our light and our strength.
– For all those in positions of leadership in the Church and in the world, that God’s Spirit may enlighten them and give them courage, let us pray: R/ Lord, be our light and our strength.
– For all those who are seeking God with a sincere heart, that they may find him; for all those who try to discover what God wants them to do, that the Lord may give them insight and wisdom, let us pray: R/ Lord, be our light and strength.
– For those called by the Lord to special ministries of service in the community, that they may have the courage to put no limitations on their generosity, let us pray: R/ Lord, be our light and strength.
– For those disillusioned or discouraged by adversity and suffering, that they may encounter convinced Christians who may inspire them, let us pray: R/ Lord, you are our light and strength
– For all of us here, that we may commit ourselves to Jesus our Lord as he commits himself to us, let us pray: R/ Lord, be our light and strength.
Lord Jesus Christ, let your thoughts and life, your faithfulness and courage be ours, that we may follow you without reservations on the way to the Father and to people, now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Lord our God,
in these gifts of bread and wine
we bring ourselves before you
and you let your Son give himself to us.
May we learn from him
to make ourselves free
for people and for you
and to seek your will in all we do.
May we follow your Son
in his trials and his glory,
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
We now join Jesus in his sacrifice. He willingly sacrificed everything for the love of the Father and of people. Let us join him in his attitude, for we are his disciples today.
With Jesus our Lord
we pray to the Father
that his will and intentions may be ours. R/ Our Father...
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us the wisdom
of discovering your will in everyday life.
In your mercy, set us free
from all attachments and fears
that keep us from hearing
the call of your Son to follow him.
Help us to prepare in hope and joy
for the return in glory among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
This is Jesus the Lord,
who left his glory
to become the Savior of people.
This is Jesus the Lord who invites us
to join our destiny with his
and to follow him all the way. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Lord our God,
in this Eucharist you have enlightened us
with the word of wisdom of your Son
and given us his bread of strength
to follow him without hesitation.
Fill us with the wisdom and strength of your Spirit
to go with Jesus
through the desert of pain and the cross
for the sake of bringing life and joy
to our brothers and sisters in need
and for giving glory to you,
our God for ever and ever. R/ Amen.
As on other Sundays,
we have again been confronted today
with Jesus and his message.
These put our life under the criticism of the Good News.
You are my disciple? Very good.
But do you speak up for people trampled upon?
Do you give time and attention to people in need?
Can you accept hardships for the sake of others?
Such are the marks of the real disciple.
We have reflected on these marks
and we ask God to give us strength.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in peace and follow the Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.
