Reflection for November 5 Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:25-33

Gospel: 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, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

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Reflection:

The story is told about a man who was being urged by his friend to follow Jesus. So the man asked his friend, “What would I get if I decide to follow Jesus?” The friend answered, “All the crosses that you carry will evaporate the moment you decide to follow Jesus.”

Attracted by the promise of a problem-free life, the man followed Jesus. Yet, as he journeyed with Him, he began to notice something unexpected—the cross he carried on his shoulders grew heavier and even multiplied.

Why do we follow Jesus?

When Jesus saw that great crowds were traveling with Him, He knew that many were there because of the miracles and healings He performed. He also knew that once He stopped performing miracles, many of them would abandon Him. Jesus could see their hearts as clearly as one sees through crystal-clear water.

So He said to them, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).

What, then, is this cross that Jesus is speaking about? The cross represents the trials, burdens, and challenges that we encounter when we decide to follow the Lord. Following Jesus is not a call to comfort but a call to commitment. It is not a promise of a trouble-free life, but an invitation to walk closely with Him even when life becomes difficult.

Many of us may have been led to believe that following Jesus means that all our problems will vanish and that He will immediately lighten our burdens. We may have imagined Him as a cure-all God who fixes everything at once. But as we grow in faith, we realize that there are times when Jesus does not remove our difficulties. There are times when He does not heal us right away or change our situation instantly.

At such moments, it may seem that Jesus is distant or silent. Yet, even in silence, He is with us. Even in pain, He walks beside us. He may not always take away our cross, but He gives us the strength to carry it with faith and courage.

For every tear we shed, He offers His shoulder; for every burden we bear, He offers His heart.

Jesus reminds us that true discipleship requires perseverance. If we truly wish to follow Him, we must be willing to carry our own cross, to let go of our comfort zones, and to trust in His will. But He also assures us: “Do not worry about anything, for I will take care of everything for you.”

To follow Jesus despite our pain, confusion, or weakness is one of the greatest acts of faith we can ever make. When we follow Him even when life is heavy, we discover a deeper kind of peace—the peace that comes not from the absence of problems, but from the presence of Jesus within our hearts.

Do we still choose to follow Jesus even when our crosses become heavier, trusting that through them, He is drawing us closer to His heart? - Marino J. Dasmarinas