The Cost is High, The Gain is Overwhelming
Making Lame Excuses
November 3, 2020
An Awesome Grace
November 5, 2020PITIK-BULAG: The Cost is High, The Gain is Overwhelming
The gospel begins with a large crowd following Jesus. He turns to them and candidly speaks about becoming his disciples. He invites everyone to level up their relationship with Him. He wants them to grow from being mere receivers of God’s grace and be dispensers of God’s grace.
He wants them to grow deeper in their faith by considering his offer of discipleship. Yet, Jesus is honest enough to tell them also the hard road to discipleship. It’s not an easy life but rewarding. Following Him will demand a lot from them, but life-satisfying. It will mean leaving everything but gaining everything in the process. It will mean gaining meaning and relevance in life.
Discipleship is open to everyone who desires to know, love, and serve God deeply. But it will demand many drastic changes in one’s life. It will involve leveling-up, growing up. It will demand a lot from ourselves. Consider the following demands:
1. It will mean leaving one’s comfort zones to “discomfort zones.”
2. It will mean giving up our desire for earthly possessions.
3. It will mean embracing “another way of life” – the way to righteousness, a new lifestyle totally opposite to the lifestyle of the world.
4. It will mean thinking more of the others than oneself.
5. It will mean carrying our daily crosses by embracing our sacrifices and pain for the sake of the gospel.
6. It will mean loving God above all our human relationships.
7. It will mean a lifetime commitment. No turning back!
Thus, the Lord is inviting us to think about His offer seriously. Discern about it many times. Consider the cost of following Jesus. Consider the things that you need to let go of, including your material possessions, status, and loved ones. But consider also the gain from following Him.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” (Luke 14: 28-30).
How far can you go? Do you find the Lord’s invitation enticing? What stops you from following Him all the way?
In the film series, “The Chosen” – Nicodemus, one of the high priests and well respected religious leader, was portrayed as a secret follower of Jesus. He was deeply enticed by the teachings of Jesus. In the last part of the film, Nicodemus was invited by Jesus to join in His enterprise. The date and the meeting place was set. The Lord and his disciples waited for him, but he did not show up. Nicodemus was actually nearby, looking at the group in pain, but he opted not to join. He could not leave his social status, wealth, comfort zones, and power. He was thinking of the mockery and insult he will receive for following Jesus. He has no courage yet to take these things to himself. Thus, he simply wept at the side for his failure to be brave and follow Jesus. Nicodemus found the calling of Jesus too much for him. The cost of discipleship was very high.
This is the reason why there are very few brave disciples even now. The cost is very high. The demand to leave our comfort zones is unbelievable. We are not yet ready. We have lots of fear and anxieties. Yet, the Lord wants us to join now. All He wants from us is our YES and our COMMITMENT to the Kingdom. Think about it. It may mean losing a lot from your side … but rest assured, the GAIN IS BEYOND TELLING.
– Fr. Willy M. Samson, SJ
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November 4, 2020
Gospel Reading: Luke 14: 25-33
