Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
REFLECTION
"everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
Following Jesus requires sacrifice, surrender, and a willingness to place Him above everything else. This is the heart of today's Gospel.
This Gospel beautifully reflects the life of St. Charles Borromeo, whose memorial we celebrate on November 4. He is the patron saint of catechists and seminarians and a remarkable example of someone who truly understood the cost of discipleship.
Born into a wealthy and influential family, St. Charles chose to set aside worldly comforts, personal ambitions, and privileges to dedicate his life to reforming the Church and serving the poor.
His life challenges me to ask myself:
What am I willing to surrender to follow Jesus more faithfully?
Am I willing to sacrifice my comfort, my time, and my desires for the love of God and my neighbor?
St. Charles did not merely preach the Gospel. He lived it.
May we, too, have the courage to carry our crosses, surrender our hearts, and follow Jesus wherever He leads us.
Please visit our Saint of the Day feature to learn more about St. Charles Borromeo HERE.
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