Cost of discipleship
Philippians 2:12-18; Psalm 27; Luke 14:25-33
Today’s Gospel presents us with the daunting demands of discipleship. Jesus, in his characteristic honesty, lays bare the challenges that come with following him. As we hear in Luke 9:58, he cautions those who would follow him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus does not sugarcoat the difficulties of discipleship; instead, he invites us to count the cost.
In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus emphasizes the importance of careful consideration before embarking on the journey of discipleship. Just as a builder must estimate the cost of a project and a king must assess the strength of his army before engaging in battle, we too must weigh the demands of following Jesus.
Jesus stands before the crowd today, presenting the demands of discipleship, and invites us to examine ourselves.
As we reflect on our own commitment to discipleship, let us ask ourselves: Are we willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus, even when the path becomes difficult? Do we have the courage to carry our burdens and persevere in our faith?
Let us pray for the strength and perseverance to follow Jesus, even when the journey becomes challenging.
Prayer
May God bless us as we strive to follow Jesus, and may our reflection lead us to a deeper commitment to our faith.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
