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.”
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 prodded by his friend to
follow Jesus. So, the man asked his friend: “What would I get if I decide to
follow the Lord?” The friend told the man: “All the crosses that you carry
would be gone the moment you decide to follow Jesus.” With the promise of a
problem free life the man followed Jesus. However, the man noticed that as he
followed Jesus the crosses that he carried in his shoulders started to file up
as well.
Why do you follow Jesus?
When Jesus noticed that great crowds were travelling with him he knew
that they were there because of the many miracles and healings that he does. Jesus
knew that the moment He stops doing miracles for them they would eventually
abandon him. Jesus knew it like seeing through a crystal clear water!
So he addressed them, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come
after me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27).” What is this cross that Jesus is
speaking about? The cross are the many life challenges, burdens and trials that
we would encounter the moment we decide to follow the Lord.
Other Christian denominations project Jesus as a God who can immediately
lighten our burdens the moment we accept Him as our Lord and savior. A miracle
worker or a cure all God so to speak! And many are immediately hypnotized by
this promise so they leave the church for the Christian denomination.
However there will be instances wherein Jesus would not help us carry our
burden; would not cure us of our sickness. It may even seem that Jesus is an
absentee God, a God who doesn’t care. Yes, it’s not all the time that we would
get what we want from Jesus. He cares nevertheless and He is always with us
even in the most difficult episodes of our life.
What Jesus is telling us in the Gospel is: if you want to follow me be
prepared to persevere. Be prepared to carry your own cross and be prepared to
sacrifice and leave your own comfort zone. And don’t worry about anything because
I will take care of it.
Truth be told, to follow the Lord amidst your burdens, trials and
challenges is the best decision that you can ever do in your life. Would you
follow the Lord in spite of the many crosses that you carry? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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