First reading Romans 13:8-10
Your only debt should be the debt of mutual love
Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.
Responsorial Psalm 111(112):1-2,4-5,9
Happy the man who takes pity and lends.
Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.
Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.
Gospel Luke 14:25-33
Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’
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The cost of discipleship
In today’s reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, he emphasises the importance of love, stating, “Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love… Love is one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour…” These words continue to call out to us to remind us about the primacy of love in our relationships with our family, friends and even those we struggle to be with. Genuine and selfless love should direct our interactions with them and lead us to constantly seek their well-being.
In the Gospel, Jesus challenges us to consider the cost of discipleship. He outlines three conditions for following Him: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, or children… Anyone who does not carry his cross… None of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.” The term “hate” refers not to literal hatred, but rather signifies the absolute commitment needed of us in following Jesus. We also need to carry our crosses, which involve enduring struggles for justice and the betterment of others, and let go of attachments that can distract us from setting our hearts on Jesus. Let us commit to following Jesus and embrace the loving life that God intended for us.
Reflective question:
In what way do today’s passages challenge me in my following of Jesus?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
