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
“In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions, cannot be my disciple.”
We find ourselves with Jesus on His way to Jerusalem. Traveling with Jesus is one thing, being His disciple is another. So He is teaching us to have our priorities straight.
The Son of God says that to be His disciple, He must be ahead of our jobs, family ties, and affections. We are to take up our cross, put aside glitter, fame and comfort and follow Him.
Following Jesus is not to be taken lightly.
Three conditions to be His disciple are noted:
Love Jesus more than your family and more than your life.
Carry our own cross and go after Him. Self sacrifice even to the point of losing our lives is how we love and are to be saved.
Be detached of all our possessions.
“Our lives will truly be beautiful only if we discover how to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves.” (St Carlo Acutis)
Beautiful reflection.
Thanks.