GOSPEL READING:
Luke 14:25-3325 Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, 26 "If any one 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. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, `This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. 33 So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Meditation: Why does the Lord Jesus say we must 'hate' our
families and even ourselves (Luke 14:26)? In Biblical times the
expression 'to hate' often meant to 'prefer less'. Jesus used
strong language to make clear that nothing should take precedence
or first place over God. God our heavenly Father created us in his
image and likeness to be his beloved sons and daughters. He has
put us first in his love and concern for our well-being and
happiness. Our love for him is a response to his exceeding love
and kindness towards us. True love is costly because it holds
nothing back from the beloved - it is ready to give all and
sacrifice all for the beloved. God the Father gave us his only
begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who freely offered up his
life for us on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
His sacrificial death brought us pardon and healing, new life in
the Spirit and peace with God.
The cost of following Jesus as his disciples
Jesus willingly embraced the cross, not only out of
obedience to his Father's will, but out of a merciful love for
each one of us in order to set us free from slavery to sin, Satan,
and everything that would keep us from his love, truth, and
goodness. Jesus knew that the cross was the Father's way for him
to achieve victory over sin and death - and glory for our sake as
well. He counted the cost and said 'yes' to his Father's will. If
we want to share in his glory and victory, then we, too, must
'count the cost' and say 'yes" to his call to "take up our cross
and follow him" as our Lord and Savior.
What is the 'way of the cross' for you and me? It means that when
my will crosses with God's will, then his will must be done. The
way of the cross involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of laying down
my life each and every day for Jesus' sake. What makes such
sacrifice possible and "sweet" for us is the love of God poured
out for us in the blood of Christ who cleanses us and makes us a
new creation in him. Paul the Apostle tells us that "God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who
has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). We can never outmatch
God in his merciful love and kindness towards us. He always gives
us more than we can expect or imagine. Do you allow the Holy
Spirit to fill your heart and transform your life with the
overflowing love and mercy of God?
The wise plan ahead to avert failure and shame
What do the twin parables of the tower builder and a ruler on a
war campaign have in common (Luke 14:28-32)? Both the tower
builder and the ruler risked serious loss if they did not
carefully plan ahead to make sure they could finish what they had
begun. In a shame and honor culture people want at all costs to
avoid being mocked by their community for failing to complete a
task which they had begun in earnest. This double set of parables
echoes the instruction given in the Old Testament Book of
Proverbs: "By wisdom a house is built" and "by wise guidance you
can wage a war" to ensure victory (Proverbs 24:3-6).
In Jesus' time every landowner who could afford it built a wall
around his orchard or vineyard as a protection from intruders who
might steal or destroy his produce. A tower was usually built in a
corner of the wall and a guard posted especially during harvest
time when thieves would likely try to make off with the goods.
Starting a building-project, like a watchtower, and leaving it
unfinished because of poor planning or insufficient funds would
invite the scorn of the whole village. Likewise a king who decided
to wage a war against an opponent who was much stronger, would be
considered foolish if he did not come up with a plan that had a
decent chance of success. Counting the cost and investing wisely
are necessary conditions for securing a good return on the
investment.
The great exchange
If you prize something of great value and want to possess it, it's
natural to ask what it will cost you before you make a commitment
to invest in it. Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to
tell his disciples that it would cost them dearly to be his
disciples - it would cost them their whole lives and all they
possessed in exchange for the new life and treasure of God's
kingdom. The Lord Jesus leaves no room for compromise or
concession. We either give our lives over to him entirely or we
keep them for ourselves. Paul the Apostle reminds us, "We are
not our own. We were bought with a price" (
1 Corinthians 6:19b,20). We were once slaves to sin and a
kingdom of darkness and oppression, but we have now been purchased
with the precious blood of Jesus Christ who has ransomed us from a
life of darkness and destruction so we could enter his kingdom of
light and truth. Christ has set us free to choose whom we will
serve in this present life as well as in the age to come - God's
kingdom of light, truth, and goodness or Satan's kingdom of
darkness, lies, and deception. There are no neutral parties - we
are either for God's kingdom or against it.
Who do you love first - above all else?
The love of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in
our lives. To place any relationship or any possession above God
is a form of idolatry - worshiping the creature in place of the
Creator and Ruler over all he has made. Jesus challenges his
disciples to examine who and what they love first and foremost. We
can be ruled and mastered by many different things - money, drugs,
success, power or fame. Only one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ,
can truly set us free from the power of sin, greed, and
destruction. The choice is ours - who will we serve and follow -
the path and destiny the Lord Jesus offers us or the path we
choose in opposition to God's will and purpose for our lives. It
boils down to choosing between life and death, truth and
falsehood, goodness and evil. If we choose for the Lord Jesus and
put our trust in him, he will show us the path that leads to true
joy and happiness with our Father in heaven.
Lord Jesus, you are my Treasure, my Life, and my All. There is nothing in this life that can outweigh the joy of knowing, loving, and serving you all the days of my life. Take my life and all that I have and make it yours for your glory now and forever.
Psalm 90:1-6,12-14,16-17
1 LORD, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn man back to the dust, and say, "Turn back, O children of men!"
4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
16 Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us, yes, establish the work of our hands.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Jesus permits us to love family but not more than God, by Cyril of Alexandria, 375-444 A.D.
"He says, 'He that loves father or mother more than me is not
worthy of me. He that loves son or daughter more than me is not
worthy of me' (Matthew 10:37). By adding 'more than me,' it is
plain that he permits us to love, but not more than we love him.
He demands our highest affection for himself and that very
correctly. The love of God in those who are perfect in mind has
something in it superior both to the honor due to parents and to
the natural affection felt for children." (excerpt
fromCOMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY
105)
