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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."
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.
