Sacrifice, Love and Carrying Our Cross ~ by Ronnie Archer

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 9:13-18b
Ps. 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (1)
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14: 25-33

The first reading tells us that we need the gift of Wisdom so that we will know what God's Will is. If we feel we know HIS Will, it sometimes might be uncomfortable for us to really do HIS Will. We have to be willing to forego OUR own will to sincerely follow Jesus' footsteps.

Paul says in the second reading to Philemon that he has become an old man, and also a prisoner for Jesus Christ. He is sending a fellow prisoner, the slave Onesimus, who has become a Christian, and very close to Paul's heart - back to his owners so he would no longer be a slave, but a beloved "brother" in the Lord.

The first words of this Sunday's gospel sound very harsh to us, because it sounds like Jesus is asking us to turn our backs on our own families. That seems too much for us to do. What Jesus is asking us to do is to put HIM before our other relationships and our possessions, and disconnect ourselves from whatever might prevent us from living His Will.

It is not easy to "let go" of some of our own habits, emotions, etc. that we have had all of our lives, nor give up what is comfortable to us, but if it is something that will become an obstacle to loving God and following HIS Will for us, that IS what we must do.

We have to deny our "ownselves", and our "old" selves and pray earnestly, asking God to transform our hearts and our minds for the sake of the Gospel of the Lord, Jesus. When we love as Jesus loves, the interest of others becomes more important than our own.

When we have earthly matters clouding our minds and our lives, it is more difficult to really discern what GOD wants from us.

Following Jesus Christ involves surrendering ourselves, becoming uncomfortable, and "taking up our cross". Christ's example is to serve others; when we find that difficult to do, then if we are sincere in our desire to follow Jesus, we must ask God for faith, and the strength to do so and HE WILL hear our prayers and reward us according to our deeds.

If we sincerely follow Christ and carry our cross each day, then we will become better persons, living a life that is centered around Christ. If we respond to Christ's call to deny ourselves, then we will be rewarded.

"Whoever does NOT carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)


~ Image from Thinkart, Dreamstime.com ~