Homily – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

All who do not renounce their possessions cannot be my disciples.

Do you know what you are doing?

Can you remember: the day you got married, the day that your baby was born, your first day on the job, the day you started school?  These are all major occasions.  These are the days and the moments when we know we are on the verge of something life changing.  These are the days that are filled with excitement, awe, wonder and dread all at once.  Laughter and tears fill our hearts, our minds, our eyes and our mouths.  We are stepping out and we both know and don’t know what we are doing and what lies before us.  

Did I know what I was saying when I said “I am” to the question: “Are you resolved, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to discharge without fail the office of the priesthood in the presbyteral order as a conscientious fellow worker with the bishops in caring for the Lord’s flock?” or “Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?”

Did you know what you were saying when you said “in good times and bad, in sickness and health all the days of my life.”  Does any of us know what we are saying when we say “I love you”, be it child, teenager or adult.  The answer of course is that we don’t know exactly what our commitments really mean until we have to live them out.  We do not know what our pledge of love will mean until we are faced with the challenge to love.  

And the same is true in being called to be a disciple.

Jesus’ shock statement in the Gospel of Luke is a call to those who would be his followers to be open eyed about what it will mean to be a follower.  Does he want us to hate our families? No.  Does he want us to know that following the way of the cross will bring its challenges and does he want to confront us with the fact that the choices we make may be unpopular even among our family members? Yes.  

And we may not be ready for that.  Luke uses the two examples of the building of a tower and of preparation for war.  Much work is needed before either is undertaken.  

Perhaps in the simplest application of this gospel for this week we could spend some time pondering a decision that we have to make or one that we have just made and ask for the gift of wisdom to see how it squares with the gospel before we ask “what will my friends and family think of me”.

By Fr Brendan Reed

 

Homily Parish Priest

Comments

Profile image
Laura Facci

Thank you Father Brendan for your very insightful homily. Since moving to OLOGC parish, I always look forward to reading your reflection on the gospel on the Saturday.
God Bless you
Laura

Your comment will be revised by the site if needed.

Add Comment

Your comment will be revised by the site if needed.