September 4, 2016: Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Photo: Sister Denise Wilkinson hugs her cousin Mary on the day when Sister Denise, as a young professed sister, graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.)

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.” (Luke 14:25-33)

Reflection:

The theme of today’s gospel centers around our invitation to discipleship, and making God a priority within our lives. We are all invited into a deeper relationship with God, and to embrace this all-encompassing vocation. It is a call to a life where we use our gifts and abilities that God has graced us with for the good of God’s people. It is knowing that through the giving over of ourselves, we also accept the sacrifice and struggles that come our way as we live the paschal mystery.

Action:

How do you nurture your relationship with God? Reflect on what it means for you to be called into discipleship? How do you live this out each day?