Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thừ Năm Tuần 31 Thường Niên.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thừ Năm Tuần 31 Thường Niên. Luke 15:1-10.  
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Thánh Luca mô tả Thiên Chúa không phải là người ưa thích báo thù hay muốn trừng phạt con người, nhưng là một Thiên Chúa đầu yêu thương, Ngài hằng mong tìm kiếm những con người tội lỗi để đem họ về trong ơn cứu rỗi. Thiên Chúa đang tìm kiếm chúng ta, những con người tội lỗi, và yếu kém đức tin! Trong bài dụ ngôn hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đuợc mô tả như một người mục tử nhân từ đang tìm kiếm con chiên đi lạc trong sa mạc. Và khi tìm thấy được nó, anh ta không tức giận, la mắng hay trừng phạt nó vì cái tội đi lang thang để bị lạc bày, nhưng anh ta đã đặt nó trên vai và mang nó về nhà với niềm vui hớn hở. Tương tự như vậy, Thánh Luca tiếp tục miêu tả Thiên Chúa như người phụ nữ tìm đồng tiền bị mất của mình. Cô quét nhà, thắp đèn cho sáng, cô đã bỏ ra hằng giờ và cố công để tìm cho ra đồng bạc bị mất của mình. Mặc dù đồng bạc ấy có giá trị không bằng cái công đã bỏ ra đi tìm, và có thể cô còn tốn tiền nhiều hơn cái giá trị của đồng tiền trong việc ăn mừng với bạn bè làng xóm sau khi cô đã tìm thấy được đồng bạc ấy.
            Kitô giáo của chúng ta chú trọng về việc Thiên Chúa tìm kiếm chúng ta, con người tội lỗi  hơn là việc chúng ta đi tìm kiếm Thiên Chúa: việc Thiên Chúa tha thứ, đón nhận, và mời gọi chúng ta đến với Bí Tích Thánh Thể. Kinh Thánh mời gọi chúng ta suy ngẫm về những gì chúng ta có thể đã vô tình đánh mất. Có lẽ chúng ta đã đánh mất một cái gì đó đọc đường trong cuộc sống vất vả, cam go,  hay chúng ta bị thất lạc những gí đó trong một cuốc sống đầy bon chen vật chất, hoặc chúng ta đã vô tình hay cố ý bỏ lại sau lưng những gì đó vì cuộc sống đầy vội vã, và đua chạy với đồng tiền, danh vọng.. Chúng ta đã mất những gì? Chúng ta cỏn thiếu những gì cho cuộc sống của chúng ta? Thiên Chúa đang tìm kiếm chúng ta, đang chờ đợi chúng ta và sẵn sàng chào đón và đưa chúng ta về nhà Chúa. Hãy đến với với tâm hồn thống hối và ăn năn.  Lạy Chúa, linh hồn chúng con đang mong chờ và đợi Chúa, xin cho chúng con biết vtin tưởng vào lời Chúa đã hứa.
 
Thursday 31^st Ordinary Time Rom. 14:7-12; Lk. 15:1-10
Contrary to some fire and brimstone preaching, our God does not delight in sending people to Hell. In fact, God grieves when people turn away from him. Our God does not cast us out. God leaves the door unlocked and we can freely choose to stay or go or even come home as we please.
            The gospel today portrays God, not as vengeful and punishing, but as a God who searches for sinners so he can save them. God is searching for us! In the first parable Jesus describes a shepherd searching for a lost sheep in the desert. When he finds it, he does not scold or punish it for wandering off and becoming lost, but puts it on his shoulders and brings it home with great joy.
            Likewise, Luke portrays God as a woman searching for her lost coin. She sweeps the house, lights a lamp. She spends more time and energy searching for her coin than it is probably worth and probably spends more than its value in celebrating its finding with her friends.
            Christianity is more about God seeking us than it is about us seeking God: about God forgiving, welcoming, and inviting us to the Eucharist, sinners though we all are. The scriptures invite us to reflect upon what we may have unknowingly lost. What is missing? Perhaps something we dropped or have misplaced or accidentally left behind or maybe just gradually fell away unnoticed. Perhaps something was taken from us. What have we lost? What’s missing? God is looking for us, waiting to welcome us home.  My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.
 
Thursday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’”  Luke 15:4–6
Some of the great saints point out that the number one hundred represents perfection. One hundred refers to the perfection of the Kingdom of God, which represents not only all of the saints in Heaven but also the angels. The one lost sheep represents all of humanity as we make our way through this life. Jesus, of course, is the Shepherd Whose attention turns to fallen humanity on a diligent search for us so as to carry us home.
First, notice that the Shepherd does not search for the one stray sheep out of anger but out of concern and love. Understanding this is essential if we are to have a correct understanding of how our Lord sees us when we stray. We must see His deep concern, His diligence in searching, and His unwavering commitment to find us in our straying condition. This is not a God Who sits back in judgment and anger but a God Who came to us, took on our fallen human nature, and endured all suffering so as to find us and bring us home.
Notice also that in this parable, the Shepherd places the lost sheep on His shoulders and carries the sheep home. Oftentimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that we must make our way back to God by our own effort. But the truth is that God is always there, waiting to pick us up and carry us home. Our duty is to surrender to His merciful hands and to stop running. This is done by turning to Him and allowing Him to come to us and minister to us. The primary effort is on the part of our Lord once we surrender ourselves into His gentle Hands.
Finally, notice that the rejoicing mentioned in this parable is on the part of the Shepherd. Of course we also will rejoice at being picked up and carried home to the perfection of God’s Kingdom, but our rejoicing is done in response to the joy of our Lord. It is His joy we are invited to share in. It is His heart that is filled with gratitude as we allow Him to tenderly carry us home. “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep,” He says.
Reflect, today, upon this holy image of the Good Shepherd. As you ponder this parable and imagery, be attentive to the various thoughts, memories, emotions and fears that are evoked within you. Each one of us is different, and our Lord deeply desires to come to each one of us right where we are, in the midst of our sins. Pondering the compassion of this Good Shepherd will open the door for our Lord to speak to you and to invite you personally to come to Him, turning away from the ways that you personally have strayed. Do not run away. Remain in confidence as He comes to you. Listen to His voice and say “Yes” to Him as He lifts you up to carry you home.
My gentle Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd. You love me and search for me with diligence and fidelity. May I trust You enough to stop running from You and hiding from Your gentle voice. Please come to me, pick me up, place me on Your shoulders and carry me home. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Thursday 31^st Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I pray that you may find me when I am lost. For my part, I will seek you in all good things. I am thankful for the gift of your grace that empowers me to do good works.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Parable of the Lost Sheep: In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus prepares for the Parable of the Prodigal Son and his Older Brother (Luke 15:11-32) by telling two parables. The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7) focuses on God’s concern for sinners who are like the younger, prodigal son. The twist in the parable is that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine. Any sensible shepherd would just cut their losses. They still have 99 sheep, losing one is no big deal. God, however, is not a sensible shepherd. He is madly in love with each one of us. He knows each one of us by name. We are each precious to God, and he will do whatever it takes to bring us back into the flock of his sheep.
2. The Parable of the Lost Coin: The second parable, the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10), applies especially to those who are like the Pharisees and scribes. They haven’t wandered far like the lost sheep. They are in the house of God, but they are lost too! Just as Jesus seeks out the lost sheep, he will seek out the lost coin. We are familiar with both groups of people. We know family members, friends, coworkers, and others who have fallen into “sins of the flesh” and have left the Church. We also know people who remain in the Church but are like the scribes and Pharisees. They refuse to welcome sinners, they judge them no matter what they do, and they relate to God more like an accountant than a Father. Instead of growing in love for God and their brothers and sisters, they check off boxes of external pious practices and are confidently self-righteous because of all the sins they are avoiding. They refuse to celebrate God’s mercy. They are lost in the House of God and need to be found. Jesus asks us to imitate the merciful father, who goes to the older son and asks him to celebrate the return of his brother and welcome him into the family once more. He asks us to imitate the woman who searches her house for the lost coin and calls all her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her when she finds it.
3. Legal Righteousness vs. Divine Righteousness: In the Letter to the Philippians, Paul puts the congregation on guard against Judaizing missionaries, who, should they make their way to the city of Philippi, would likely pressure them to receive circumcision. Paul argues that he, as an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin and an observant Pharisee, was circumcised according to the Law. He contrasts that legal righteousness based on the Law of Moses with the surpassing divine righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ. Circumcision was only a symbolic ritual of something greater yet to come. This something greater is the Sacrament of Baptism, which incorporates us into Christ, washes away our sin, and makes us children of God. We are not to place our confidence in our flesh or the legal righteousness of the Old Law. We are to be confident in the divine righteousness we have received through faith in Jesus Christ under the New Covenant. “For Paul, legal righteousness is not a saving righteousness because it depends on human effort apart from the inward grace of God” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 361).
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I trust in you. You offer me the wonderful gift of divine righteousness. When I stray, you do not abandon me but seek me out as a Good Shepherd and bring me home on your shoulders.
 
Thursday 31^st Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I love you very much. I want to spend this time with you, to hear what you have to tell me. I need your Gospel, and I need your message of mercy. Grant me your grace and hear my prayer.
Encountering Christ:
Starting to Complain: The Pharisees and scribes began to complain about Jesus’ behavior: “He focuses way too much on sinners!” They felt that his emphasis on mercy was exaggerated. They thought that religion was about being good and pure; so why all the focus on the moral outcasts? God will always have a special love for sinners and those who suffer. And he’s always going to ask us to be his instruments of mercy for those people. That can be a difficult reality. Sometimes we can sometimes feel like being faithful to God’s will is too costly. When we recognize this sentiment in our hearts, face it honestly, and bring it to God he will bless and enlighten, restore and redeem us.
Left in the Desert: Jesus left ninety-nine good sheep to go searching for one miserable wanderer. In my contemplation, Jesus seems to ask me, “Wouldn’t you go after the one sheep?” Well, I wouldn’t. I don’t think I would leave my friends alone and vulnerable to try to rescue an enemy. Rereading this passage, we learn that God searched for the lost sheep to show us how much he loves every single one of us individually. He also shows us how much we are supposed to love each other: “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” God is challenging us to stay close to the Shepherd so that we grow in mercy.
Called to Rejoice: God called upon the ninety-nine to rejoice. We are to rejoice and make merry over every repentant brother, every time someone accepts God’s mercy. How hard this can be for us if we have been wounded by that person in some way! Only by God’s grace can we extend mercy the way that Jesus does. When we pray for that gift, our stone hearts melt and we are led from unforgiveness and judgment to peace and authentic joy. 
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I have experienced your mercy in my own life and, with a heart full of gratitude, I want to be able to extend your mercy to others. Reaching out this way can be difficult for me! Unite me to your merciful heart, so that I may become more merciful.
 
Meditation Thursday 31^st Ordinary Time
 Do you ever feel resentful or get upset when someone else gets treated better than you think they deserve? The scribes and Pharisees took great offense at Jesus because he went out of his way to meet with sinners and he treated them like they were his friends. The Pharisees had strict regulations about how they were to keep away from sinners, lest they incur ritual defilement. They were not to entrust money to them or have any business dealings with them, nor trust them with a secret, nor entrust orphans to their care, nor accompany them on a journey, nor give their daughter in marriage to any of their sons, nor invite them as guests or be their guests. They were shocked with the way in which Jesus freely received sinners and ate with them. Sinners, nonetheless, were drawn to Jesus to hear him speak about the mercy of God. Jesus characteristically answered the Pharisees' charge with a parable or lesson drawn from everyday life.
            What does Jesus' story about a lost sheep and a lost coin tell us about God and his kingdom? Shepherds normally counted their sheep at the end of the day to make sure all were accounted for. Since sheep by their very nature are very social, an isolated sheep can quickly become bewildered and even neurotic. The shepherd's grief and anxiety is turned to joy when he finds the lost sheep and restores it to the fold. The housewife who lost a coin faced something of an economic disaster, since the value of the coin would be equivalent to her husband's daily wage. What would she say to her husband when he returned home from work? They were poor and would suffer greatly because of the loss. Her grief and anxiety turn to joy when she finds the coin. Both the shepherd and the housewife "search until what they have lost is found." Their persistence pays off. They both instinctively share their joy with the whole community. The poor are particularly good at sharing in one another's sorrows and joys. What was new in Jesus' teaching was the insistence that sinners must be sought out and not merely mourned for. God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God. Seekers of the lost are much needed today. Do you persistently pray and seek after those you know who have lost their way to God?
            "Lord Jesus, let your light dispel the darkness that what is lost may be found and restored. Let your light shine through me that others may see your truth and love and find hope and peace in you. May I never doubt your love nor take for granted the mercy you have shown to me. Fill me with your transforming love that I may be merciful as you are merciful."
 
Thursday 31^st Ordinary Time
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for the grace to be able to spend time with you. Strengthen my faith and inflame my love. Help me to listen attentively to your word, and to be open in both mind and heart. May I continue to seek you out more each day, and may I allow myself to be found by you, the Good Shepherd. 
Encountering Christ:
1. Lost Sheep: It is easy to imagine a single sheep becoming distracted, disoriented, and lost. Once separated from the flock, it is in danger of not finding its way back, or worse, being attacked by wolves. While such a situation is troublesome, a shepherd really couldn’t be angry at an irrational animal for its actions. However, when man strays from God, he does so by his own free choice. He is  responsible; he does not accidentally stray from God due to innocent ignorance. That makes the patience of Christ all the greater than that of a shepherd; he is not pursuing an ignorant animal, but rather a  willful and errant soul. That is why St. Paul marveled, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Francis Thompson’s “Hound of Heaven” expresses the errant soul’s perspective well: "I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways… But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace… They beat-and a Voice beat… “All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’’
2. “No Need of Repentance”: The shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep to seek the lost one. These are those who “have no need of repentance.” Here Our Lord is speaking with a sense of irony since we are all in need of conversion. While we may be “in the fold” of the church and practicing our faith, our conversion remains an ongoing process. However, it is a real danger to begin to think of oneself as “fully” converted, or as having arrived at moral “perfection.” This seems to be Christ’s point in another passage where the Pharisee prayed “‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity–greedy, dishonest, adulterous–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner’” (Luke 18:11-13). It was the tax collector who went home justified (see Luke 18:14).
3. “Rejoice with Me”: “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” It is wonderful to hear from Jesus about the joy found in heaven with the recovery of the lost sheep. The church also celebrates such good news. However, the once lost and now recovered sheep may be tempted not to rejoice. He or she will be grateful for Our Lord’s help, but often that individual struggles with letting go of the guilt associated with his or her past. In extreme cases, the person may even question if he or she was truly forgiven. “But I was so bad—how could I be forgiven?” This is why Our Lord affirms that his mercy is precisely for sinners—like Peter who denied him, like the woman caught in adultery, and like the good thief on the cross. The greater the sins, the greater the conversion, and, therefore, the greater the gratitude. “Rejoice with me!”
Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. As such, I am so grateful to you for patiently and continuously offering your mercy to me. May I neither despair of, nor presume of, your mercy. Increase my reliance upon your grace to strengthen me in the face of temptation and difficulties. Also help me to be your instrument to communicate your goodness to souls in need of your mercy.
 
Comment:
There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner
Today, the evangelist of God's mercy imparts two parables of Jesus that lighten up his divine behavior towards those sinners returning to the right path. With the human image of joy, he reveals God's goodness finding pleasure in the homecoming of those who moved away from sin. It is like coming back to the Father's home (as more distinctly will say at Lk 15:11-32). «For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved» (Jn 3:17), and He did it while welcoming those that, full of confidence, «were seeking the company of Jesus (...), to hear what He had to say» (Lk 15:1), as He healed their soul as the doctor heals the body of the ailing (cf. Mt 9:12). While the Pharisees believed they were so righteous and felt they needed no doctor, it is actually for them —the evangelist says— that Jesus proposes the parables we read today.
            If we feel spiritually sick, Jesus will tend to us and will be happy that we have gone to him. But if, on the contrary, we would think, as those proud Pharisees did, that we need not to plead forgiveness, the divine Doctor will not heal us. Each time we recite the Lord's Prayer, we must feel like sinners, as we say «and forgive us our wrongs...». And we sure must be grateful to him for doing it! As grateful we must also be, for having placed, so mercifully, at our disposal, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Let us hope our haughtiness will not make us to look down on it. St. Augustine tells us that Jesus Christ, God and Man, gives us an example of humbleness by removing the “tumor” of our arrogance, «for, though great is the misery of a haughty man, greater is still the mercy of the humble God».
            Let us further add that the lesson Jesus gives to the Pharisees is also an example for all of us; we cannot throw sinners away from us. The lord wants us to love them as He has loved us (cf. Jn 13:34) and we must rejoice to bring back home the lost sheep or to recover the lost coin.
 
WAU -Meditation: Luke 14:25-33 - 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them… (Luke 14:25)
Try to imagine yourself among the people following along behind Jesus. Questions are swirling around you; some are laughing, and some are crying, as the crunch of feet on the ground grows. Suddenly Jesus stops, turns around, and looks right at you. Did I do something? Jesus begins to speak, and it is as if everyone else disappears. Luke’s little detail about Jesus stopping, turning, and speaking seems deliberate. He wanted to emphasize Jesus’ desire to get the people’s full attention as he spoke words crucial to their faith. This was not a time for idle chatter or casual conversation. It was a time to let every word soak in. And for those who did pay close attention, the words changed their lives.
            Every day, Jesus, the Son of the living God, wants to speak to you! He wants to take your face in his hands and say, “Look at me. Listen closely. This is important. I want you to receive it.” He asks you to set aside your own thoughts, ideas, and plans, and try your best to imagine looking into his eyes. This is a holy moment, when he can move your heart and form your mind. It’s a sacred time, when he can give you the grace you need to love him and follow him. It’s a golden opportunity for him to chip away at the hard outer layer of your heart so that he can find new ways to teach you and love you. Day in and day out, we are surrounded by distractions—both interior and exterior. There is so much “chatter” trying to pull us away from Jesus and from one another. How encouraging, then, to know that we have a Redeemer who will never stop trying to get our attention! Day after day, he wants to turn to us, look us in the eye, and tell us about his love, his will, and his salvation. So don’t let the chatter drown him out!
            “Jesus, thank you for calling my name and speaking to my heart. Open my ears to hear you above all the noise in my day.”

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thừ Tư Tuần 31 Thường Niên.

Suy Niệm Tin Mừng Thừ Tư Tuần 31 Thường Niên. Luke 14:25-33
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay Chúa Giêsu nêu rõ cho chúng ta thấy ba điều kiện để trở thành môn đệ của Ngài.
Trước hết: mối quan tâm chính cho cuộc sống cho những ai muốn làm môn đệ của Chúa:
-  Mối quan hệ với gia đình, người thân và thậm chí mối quan tâm đến chính cuộc sống riêng của chính mình được coi là thứ yếu. Chữ ghét ' ở đây được sử dụng như một cách so sánh của tiếng Do Thái để thể hiện sở thích.(“Thích” là thích nhiều còn “ghét” là thích nhưng ít hơn). Có nghĩa là mối quan hệ giữ chúng ta và gia đình đứng thứ hai sau mối quan hệ với Chúa Giêsu. Điều này là một sự cam kết tuyệt đối đến Nước Trời, ngay cả khi chúng ta phải liều mạng chịu chết trong cuộc tử đạo bởi mà không cói suy tính được thua thiệt cho chính bản than mình.
- Thứ hai, (V 27)  là vác thập giá của chúng ta mà theo Chúa Giêsu . Cây thập giá "là một biểu tượng của sự cùng cực, nhục nhã, tự hy sinh  mà những người theo Chúa Giê-su đặt kỳ vọng và chấp nhận số phận giống như Chúa Giêsu Kitô.
- Thứ ba ( v33 ) là sự từ bỏ triệt để tất cả của cải vật chất của chúng ta. Một môn đệ của Đức Kitô cần đánh giá tất cả các nguồn lực tài nguyên của mình trước khi theo Chúa Giêsu . Tuy nhiên, các nguồn lực vật chất thế gian, thì không thể nào là các nguồn lực thực sự cho các môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu, do đó phải từ bỏ .
            Như vậy, để theo Chúa Giêsu chúng ta đòi hỏi phải làm một quyết định dứt khoát và đớn đau. Có nghĩa là chúng ta phải loại bỏ tất cả những chướng ngại vật chất, cũng như tinh thần để làm môn đệ đích thực của Chúa. Theo Chúa Giêsu là một sự lựa chọn và phải được thực hiện với những suy nghĩ chính chắn, trưởng thành vi quyết định này sẽ có ảnh hưởng đến cả cuộc sống của chúng ta. Trên hết tất cả, vai trò môn đệ liên quan đến hành động trong tình yêu chân thành, và tuyệt hảo của Chúa Kitô và những người khác. Điều này thực sự đã được xác định trong bài đọc thứ nhất hôm nay: Trong tất cả mọi thứ, tình yêu phải là điều kiện duy nhất .  Lạy Chúa, xin giúp chúng con biết yêu thương giống như Chúa và làm tất cả mọi thứ chỉ vì tình yêu vẹn toàn của Chúa.
 
Wednesday 31^st Ordinary Time Rom. 13:8-10;  Lk. 14:25-33
Today’s Gospel reading spells out clearly the three conditions for discipleship.
The first (v26) is to make discipleship the key concern in life. Relationship with family, relatives and even concern for one’s own life are to be considered as secondary. The word ‘hate’ here is used in a Semitic way for expressing preferences. It means to make family relationship secondary to following Jesus. This is an absolute commitment to the kingdom — even to risk one’s life in martyrdom for there is no compromise.
     The second (v27) is to bear one’s own cross and come after Jesus. The ‘cross’ is a symbol of the extreme humiliating self-sacrifice that is expected of Jesus’ followers and to accept the same fate as Jesus.
     The third (v33) is the radical renunciation of all one’s possessions. A disciple of Christ should assess all his resources before following Jesus. However, the material resources are in no way the real resources for discipleship, thus to be renounced.      As such, to follow Jesus entails painful decisions. All obstacles to discipleship ought to be removed. To follow Jesus is a choice and it has to be made with mature deliberation and should affect our entire lives. Above all, discipleship involves a perfect act of love for Christ and others. This is so truly affirmed in the first reading that in all things, love must be the only condition.  Lord, help us to love like You and to do all things out of pure love of You.
 
Wednesday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time
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.”  Luke 14:25–26
After this startling opening line from our Lord, Jesus concludes today’s Gospel by saying, “In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Thus, at first read it appears that we are called to not only renounce all we possess but also to hate those within our own family. But is this truly what our Lord means? Let’s begin with the idea of “hating” those within our family and even our own life.
Obviously, the word “hate” in this Gospel passage is not the same as the sin of hate and anger. In commenting on this passage, one Church Father explains that there are some cases when the best way to love another is through a form of hate. That is, if another were to act as an obstacle to God, working to deter us from the will of our Lord, then our “hatred” for the actions they do must be firmly expressed. But this is love. A refusal to turn from God, by rejecting another’s disordered actions, is a way of sharing the Gospel with them. Let’s take an extreme example.
Imagine that you lived at a time and circumstance where being a Christian was a crime. You were arrested and commanded to publicly renounce your faith. Instead, you renounced that command with every strength of your soul. In this case, you exercise a form of holy “hate” for the persecution the person is imposing upon you. But that is also an act of love toward them as you fully reject their action by renouncing their command.
Or consider also how you hate even your “own life.” Let’s say that you fall into serious sin, over and over. The appropriate response is not only to repent but also to have a form of holy hatred for the habit into which you have fallen. This is a true hatred for yourself in the sense that it is a hatred for that which you have become by your sin. But this holy hatred has the ultimate goal of passionately overcoming your sin and is therefore a true act of love for yourself.
The concluding line of today’s Gospel mentioned above calls us to renounce all of our possessions. In other words, we must renounce anything that we are attached to in a way that is contrary to the will of God. Of course, in God’s providence most people (except those who take a vow of poverty) are invited by God to have various possessions so as to meet the material needs of life. But even in this case, we must “renounce” all that we possess, meaning, we must not allow ourselves to become attached to anything other than God. But this is freedom in the truest sense. Even if you have many things, it must be understood that those things do not make you happy. Only God and His will can fulfill you. Nothing else. Thus, we must learn to live as if God and God alone suffices. And if it is God’s will that you obtain a house, car, computer, television and other modern conveniences, then so be it. But true “renunciation” of all of these possessions simply means that if at any time you were to lose them, then this would be fine. Therein is perfect detachment. The loss of something material would not deter you in any way from loving and serving God and His holy will.
Reflect, today, upon these radical words of Jesus. Try to hear them in the way our Lord meant them. Work to be detached from everything that is contrary to the will of God and everything that becomes an obstacle to God in your life. In the end, possessing God alone is more than you could ever hope for. And only if you fully possess our merciful God will you be able to love yourself and others with the pure heart and love of Jesus our Lord.
My demanding Lord, You call us all to a life of radical holiness. You desire that I come to love You above all with all my heart. Please give me the grace and wisdom I need to renounce all that is an obstacle to my love and service of You. May You and You alone be glorified in my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
 
Wednesday 31^st Ordinary Time 2024
Opening Prayer: Lord God, your eternal plan of creation and salvation is truly awesome. You did not abandon us when we sinned against you but sent your Son to save us and teach us how to be reconciled with you and live with you forever.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Three Conditions for Discipleship: The Gospel passage opens with a Jewish idiomatic term. To “hate,” in this instance, means to “love less.” Jesus teaches that we should not love our parents, our spouse, our children, our siblings, or even our own life more than God the Father and his Son. The first and greatest commandment is to love God. The second commandment is to love our neighbor. To be Jesus’ disciples means first being committed to him more than our family attachments. The second condition to be Jesus’ disciple is to take up our cross and follow him. The third condition is to renounce all our possessions (Luke 14:33). This third condition requires serious deliberation and is illustrated with two parables. The first parable is about building a tower and discerning, like a builder, whether or not you have sufficient resources to bring the project to completion. The second parable is about marching into battle and discerning, like a king, whether or not you have sufficient troops to be successful in battle. If we apply this to our lives, we see that some people can give away everything and enter into religious life. The rest of us are called to discern how we are to use our wealth, to be truly detached from what we possess, and to give generously to the poor.
2. Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling: The Letter to the Philippians is a very positive and joyful letter. Many of Paul’s writings have to address crises in the early Christian communities or correct problems. Philippians, by contrast, is a letter of gratitude and encouragement sent to dear friends. Today, Paul praises them for their obedience to God and encourages them to work out their salvation with a sense of awe at serving God and a sense of dread at the prospect of sinning against him (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 359). The exhortation “to work out your salvation” means that salvation is an ongoing and life-long process and not a one-and-done event. And Paul reminds us that, as we work, we do not work alone, for God is the one who works in us. We do not initially save ourselves but do need to work with God and his grace to attain our final salvation.
3. Christian Attitudes: As we work out our salvation, there are some virtues and attitudes we should embody. First, Paul says to do everything without grumbling or questioning. We all know people who always complain and grumble. If the sun is shining, it is too warm. If it is cloudy, it is too cold. If it is Monday, they complain about the start of the work week. If it is Friday, they complain about how busy they are on the weekend, and so on. A Christian is called to rise above grumbling and see the great things God has done for them. Every new day is another day to grow in love and an opportunity to work to advance the Kingdom. Second, Paul recognizes the effort everyday life takes. He compares it to running or laboring. He alludes to suffering – being poured out as a libation – and sacrifice as we serve our brothers and sisters. Yet this suffering and sacrifice should not take away our joy. A Christian is joyful and hopeful while suffering and sacrificing.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I love you and desire to love you above all things. Support me as I bear my cross and suffering. Guide my steps as I follow you. Help me leave behind the things of this world and be more deeply attached to you and your Kingdom.
 
Wednesday 31^st Ordinary
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to spend time in prayer with you. I need your grace to sustain and strengthen my love for you and for my neighbor. Help me to appreciate more deeply the gift of being your disciple. 
Encountering Christ:
1. "Great Crowds Were Traveling with Jesus": It is easy to draw a crowd of curious onlookers. People like to be entertained, catch the latest news, and follow the latest trend. The crowd itself attracts more onlookers: "What’s going on that’s so exciting?" Jesus could clearly draw a crowd. He spoke as no one else had ever spoken. His miracles were fascinating with dramatic cures, exorcisms, and the multiplication of loaves, to name only a few. It was enough to be in his presence to feel close to God. While the people’s interest was for the most part sincere, the excitement of it all ran the risk of people superficially following Jesus as long as the fun remained. We can all be tempted to seek the consolation of God more than the God of consolation. Curiosity is a natural start, but it must develop and grow into a relationship, discipleship, and love.
2. "Whoever Does Not Carry His Own Cross": Jesus has a simple formula for maturing his followers; it is the cross. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." However, the question may legitimately arise, "Why is the cross a condition of following Jesus?" Jesus provides an answer in this passage. When he speaks of "hating father and mother" and even one’s "own life," Jesus is indicating that the price of discipleship is to love him above all other things— even good and holy things like mother and father. Only God may have the first place in our lives: "...seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides" (Luke 12:31). Whenever we choose something, we necessarily leave other options behind, and that entails sacrifice. For example, when you pick a job, you leave the other jobs aside. Christ is saying that all of our decisions must be subordinate to love of him and his will. "Will this decision transgress one of the Ten Commandments?" "Is this decision in accord with my vocation or state in life?" "Is this decision God’s will for me at this moment?" That is where we must prayerfully discern what God wants for us. This is not meant to create a scrupulous fear of "making the wrong decision," but rather seeking to please God in all we do in the light of faith.
3. Able to Finish: Now it is easy to be enthusiastic and even sacrificial for a day. Love proves itself and matures over time. Perseverance is essential to love. Wedding vows beautifully reflect this determination to love for a lifetime: "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part." Following Jesus requires calculating the cost of enduring to the end. There is something deeply inspiring about the soul that perseveres in love. We admire the aged couple that still holds hands. We respect the elderly priest or nun who still prays with fervor. Their example gives us the hope of seeing our own journey to the end. God’s grace and the sacrifices that fidelity entail are the means by which we persevere in love. 
Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord Jesus, I cannot know what the future holds. To say "yes" to you for a lifetime can be frightening. Do I have what it takes? Help me to understand that your love and grace will sustain me when I am weak. Help me to renew frequently my love for you in the smallest of tasks. Let me keep my eyes focused on you and not on the sacrifices. You have been so good to me. I desire to follow you until you call me to be with you in heaven.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will prayerfully reflect before making any significant decision today: "Lord, what would you have me do?"
 
Wednesday 31^st Ordinary
Opening Prayer: O God, you are God and Father of us all. You welcome my poor attempt to pray. Strengthen my weak heart and fill me with your grace.
Encountering Christ:
Thin the Ranks: Jesus’ bold challenge to his disciples is shocking. It’s as if he wished to thin the ranks of his followers! In Judges 7, we read of Israel’s leader Gideon, who, with a host of some thirty-two thousand soldiers, opposed Midian and Amalek. Surprisingly, “The Lord said to Gideon: ‘You have too many soldiers with you for me to deliver Midian into their power, lest Israel vaunt itself against me and say, “My own power saved me.”’” God permitted nearly the entire army to disband, and with only three hundred men won a great victory. This is a mysterious lesson about the power of God. The only Son of God died for all men; the one Catholic Church is the sacrament of salvation among all mankind; and one disciple who carries his cross sanctifies the whole mystical body of Christ. 
Make a Choice: Jesus exhorts us to realism. Don’t start a tower you can’t finish. Don’t fight a battle you can’t win. Be strategic; make the tough choices. In other words, let’s make the love of Christ our number one priority. We look into the eyes of Jesus and know he means it: “If you want to follow me, then follow me with everything, wholeheartedly, or not at all.” In Joshua 24, we read how Joshua exhorted the Israelites: “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your ancestors served…if it is displeasing to you to serve the Lord, choose today whom you will serve… As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
True Renunciation: What does renunciation really mean? It cannot mean to throw away all we own, or simply do without it. Renunciation means recognizing that everything we have—including relationships with loved ones—comes from the Lord and therefore should be entrusted to him. In 2 Samuel 7, the Lord recalled his countless gifts to the king. “I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to become ruler over my people Israel. I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you. And I will make your name like that of the greatest on earth…” David possessed very much—health, riches, wisdom, strength. But what did David do? He “renounced” these possessions by accepting them humbly and praising God’s name. He did not try to stop God’s largesse. “Do, then, bless the house of your servant, that it may be in your presence forever—since you, Lord God, have promised!” May we joyfully welcome and embrace the gifts of God in our lives, never forgetting from where they come.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, your words are difficult. Sometimes I must literally renounce possessions or relationships because I follow you, while at other times I must simply entrust them to you, again and again. Help me to discern the difference, and never allow anything to be an obstacle to my discipleship.
 
Wednesday 31^st Ordinary
Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to spend time in prayer with you. I need your grace to sustain and strengthen my love for you and for my neighbor. Help me to appreciate more deeply the gift of being your disciple. 
Encountering Christ:
1. "Great Crowds Were Traveling with Jesus": It is easy to draw a crowd of curious onlookers. People like to be entertained, catch the latest news, and follow the latest trend. The crowd itself attracts more onlookers: "What’s going on that’s so exciting?" Jesus could clearly draw a crowd. He spoke as no one else had ever spoken. His miracles were fascinating with dramatic cures, exorcisms, and the multiplication of loaves, to name only a few. It was enough to be in his presence to feel close to God. While the people’s interest was for the most part sincere, the excitement of it all ran the risk of people superficially following Jesus as long as the fun remained. We can all be tempted to seek the consolation of God more than the God of consolation. Curiosity is a natural start, but it must develop and grow into a relationship, discipleship, and love.
2. "Whoever Does Not Carry His Own Cross": Jesus has a simple formula for maturing his followers; it is the cross. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." However, the question may legitimately arise, "Why is the cross a condition of following Jesus?" Jesus provides an answer in this passage. When he speaks of "hating father and mother" and even one’s "own life," Jesus is indicating that the price of discipleship is to love him above all other things— even good and holy things like mother and father. Only God may have the first place in our lives: "...seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides" (Luke 12:31). Whenever we choose something, we necessarily leave other options behind, and that entails sacrifice. For example, when you pick a job, you leave the other jobs aside. Christ is saying that all of our decisions must be subordinate to love of him and his will. "Will this decision transgress one of the Ten Commandments?" "Is this decision in accord with my vocation or state in life?" "Is this decision God’s will for me at this moment?" That is where we must prayerfully discern what God wants for us. This is not meant to create a scrupulous fear of "making the wrong decision," but rather seeking to please God in all we do in the light of faith.
3. Able to Finish: Now it is easy to be enthusiastic and even sacrificial for a day. Love proves itself and matures over time. Perseverance is essential to love. Wedding vows beautifully reflect this determination to love for a lifetime: "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part." Following Jesus requires calculating the cost of enduring to the end. There is something deeply inspiring about the soul that perseveres in love. We admire the aged couple that still holds hands. We respect the elderly priest or nun who still prays with fervor. Their example gives us the hope of seeing our own journey to the end. God’s grace and the sacrifices that fidelity entail are the means by which we persevere in love. 
Conversing with Christ: Dear Lord Jesus, I cannot know what the future holds. To say "yes" to you for a lifetime can be frightening. Do I have what it takes? Help me to understand that your love and grace will sustain me when I am weak. Help me to renew frequently my love for you in the smallest of tasks. Let me keep my eyes focused on you and not on the sacrifices. You have been so good to me. I desire to follow you until you call me to be with you in heaven.
Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will prayerfully reflect before making any significant decision today: "Lord, what would you have me do?"