HOMILY OF THE 23RD SUNDAY FOR THE ORDINARY TIME: YEAR C

HOMILY OF THE 23RD SUNDAY FOR THE ORDINARY TIME: YEAR C

HOMILY THEME: The Cost of Discipleship involves Serious Commitment and Sacrifice

BY: Fr. Celestine Muonwe

Wisdom 9:13-18, Philemon 9-10,12-17, Luke 14:25-33

The readings of today address one of the most pressing questions concerning the Christian faith: How hard or easy is it to become a true Christian? Jesus says it is not an easy thing because it goes contrary to the natural man without heavenly grace, human commitment and sacrifice. The first reading from the book of wisdom draws our attention to the depth of God’s wisdom, which is revealed in Christ, the Saviour, who gave up everything, passing through suffering and death to save humanity. This seemingly act of foolishness in the eyes of man can be understood only by those whom God has granted the gift of wisdom. The notion of sacrifice is also reflected in the second reading.

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Here, we have the story of a runaway slave, Onesimus, who came to know Paul in Rome, and was in fact, converted by Paul, to whom he rendered voluntary service in his Roman Imprisonment. In the spirit of sacrifice, Paul sent back Onesimus to Philemon, in spite of his need of him while in prison . Philemon also had to make some sacrifice: he was admonished not to receive Onesimus as slave anymore, but as a brother because of the gospel they have both received through him, as their spiritual father.

Hence, Paul said to Philemon, “You must have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you both in the flesh and in the Lord” (v. 16). This statement questions our relationship with our fellow Christians; how do we treat people around us, as brothers and sisters, or as slaves? How do we treat those who work for and under us? Is it a master-slave relationship or as brothers? As Christ’s followers, are we prepared to sacrifice our comfort in order to restore the human dignity of others?

In the Gospel, the Lord restates in a most dramatic manner, the greatest and number one commandment, to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind.(Mt. 22:36-40) He teaches that God must come first, while everything else, including family and possessions should only be secondary.

A great multitude followed Jesus as He made His way to Jerusalem to endure the passion, the cross. However, He knew that many following Him were not sincere, they had various negative reasons and impure ambitions. Some came for miracles and wonders, others came to witness the conquering Messiah, who would redeem Isreal from Roman occupation. Hence, instead of seeing Jerusalem and the cross in Christianity, many today, see only Jerusalem and the crown in Christianity.

In fact, this is the false Christianity that is bandied about today by prosperity gospel preachers that has ruined many souls. The average Nigerian Christian sees in Christianity, not the cross, but the means of liberation from the cross. This is the ground for the upsurge of Neo-paganism, when Christianity of the crown, the false faith, triumphs over the true faith, such that when crosses come, unfaithful and badly catechized Christians flee, seeing the true faith as scam and foolishness, and paganism as the right option for freedom from pain and suffering. St. Paul brings this dilemma properly when he notes that Christ’s cross and death appear as foolishness for the unbelievers, but to those who believe, it is the power of God.

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and the cross, but the crowd thinks that He is on the way to Jerusalem and a crown. They consider Jesus a worldly success, and follow Him so that they too might be victorious in worldly terms. Jesus insists that discipleship carries a high price tag, it is not something that one would simply plunge into without counting the cost. This is because following Jesus demands great sacrifice and commitment.

Hence, Jesus cautions them: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Jesus wants to know if these people actually understood that following Him involves a cost, a serious commitment from the part of the one involved. Jesus’ words, and interests, must come first before those of family and relations, before one’s own personal desires and comfort. Love of God involves sacrifices and, readiness to accept suffering and pain for the sake of the One loved.

Jesus says that it involves carrying of a cross,and coming after Him, who also died for us. Jesus does not lower the standards of holiness because many people are leaving the ideal part. Following Jesus is not a matter of democracy, where even an ignorant and evil majority carries the vote. It is not a matter of feelings and emotions about people living in sin, such that doctrine and dogma could be watered down in order to accommodate them into the Church.

No, it is a serious thing. Hence, Jesus illustrates this point with two vivid examples: one who sets out to build a house would first of all check his pocket and know how much he has before beginning, a king about to engage in a war against another king must check himself, the number of soldiers he has against that of his opponent before going into the war.

Following Jesus involves planning, a careful thinking, before one sets out. This should not discourage us, Jesus only wants us to renounce our sinful ways, inclinations, and sinful occasions, and nipping them in the bud, in order to become worthy instruments of His Kingdom.

Prayer

May the good Lord help us to be ready at all times to renounce, and surrender our wills and accept His will in all things and at all times.

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