Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings

“Any One Of You Who Does Not Renounce All Of His Possessions Cannot Be My Disciple”

In our first reading (Wisdom 9:13-18), we hear about the unfathomable wisdom of God. It is an excerpt from “Solomon’s Prayer” (Wisdom 9:1-18) wherein Solomon asked God to “Give me wisdom”. He knew that even the things of this world are little understood and yet, the things of God are so much more beyond our understanding. It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we discern any of it. This reading helps set the tone for our Gospel reading; this is the supreme God whom Jesus tells us must be before all else.

In our Epistle reading from the Letter of St. Paul to Philemon (Philemon 9-10, 12-17), St. Paul gives us an example of the cost of discipleship. Paul is writing from his Roman jail cell as a “prisoner for Christ”. Paul sends Onesimus, a former runaway slave, back to his master Philemon asking for him to be freed. Baptized, Onesimus is now "more than a slave, a brother" in Christ.

In our Gospel reading (Luke 14:25-33), Jesus cautioned the crowds following Him to consider the cost of discipleship before following Him. Jesus outlined three requirements of discipleship. The first is that Jesus must come before everyone else in our lives—even our own family. Jesus used the words “hate” one’s family, which in the Hebrew context more closely means “to love less”. We must love Jesus more than everyone and everything else. The second requirement is that we must take up our cross (our own individual sufferings) and walk the walk that Jesus walks, bearing our suffering in union with His. The third is complete detachment - from all our possessions and worldly desires. They become an anchor weighing us down and keeping us from Jesus.

Imagine telling God, “I’m sorry God, but my family comes before you” - or my wealth or my possessions or my hopes and dreams or desires. What Jesus may really be telling us is, whomever you love, whatever you love, detach yourself and love Me, who created all these things, more. As we see in our first reading, with the gift of wisdom from the Holy Spirit, "thus were the paths of those on earth made straight."

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm