CYCLE I: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: THE REAL DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Lk. 14:25-43) Wednesday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel Jesus addressed the crowd and told them who are His disciples. They are those who love Him more than any relationships. He went further by telling them that being a disciple is a full time relationship. Once you decide, you must be able to finish. The two parables of the builder and the warrior illustrate Jesus’ point. Never start building or go to battle if you cannot go all the way to build and finish the battle. In the same way, discipleship is a 24/7 relationship. Focus is on the Lord. The Lord comes first more than any relations and possessions.

The memory of the rich young man comes to mind. He was a good man since he had tried to follow all the commandments. But for Jesus, it was not enough. Since the young man wanted to gain eternal life, it does not consists only of following the commandments. It is about renouncing all possessions and be possessed only by the Lord. Jesus gave Him that opportunity. But He failed because he was too rich. Eternal life and Jesus were not enough for him to let go of his riches.

When Jesus asks us to renounce from all possessions, He meant that our riches consists in Jesus and being with Him. No amount of earthy possessions and even relations could replace Jesus in our lives. This is because having Jesus means having everything while having everything without Jesus means having nothing at all. Jesus’ words reverberate; “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all will be given unto you.”

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the lost of His own soul.” When Jesus wanted to designate Peter as the head of the apostles and subsequently, the Church, He tried to establish Peter’s love for Him by asking Peter three times and telling him to tend the sheep after each answer. Peter denied Jesus thrice before.He was once weak before adversities and threats of death. Now, after the resurrection, Jesus had revealed Himself fully to everyone. Jesus wanted a leader who loves Him. That love will be the basis for his leadership and service.

Everything is contingent and limited in this world. God, the omnipotent one is our best bet. For Him, we can leave everything. For Him, everyone comes second. For Him, we can never be a loser even if we lose everything.

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