The logic of the cross

Listening to the Spirit

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word
so that all your people may know and love You more
and understand You better.

As I go about my day may I not forget
the scriptures you have opened up for me.
Help me to recognize how You want for me
to apply Your Word to my daily life.

Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word,
may You enlighten my mind
and enkindle in my heart
a greater love for You and for others
in my family and in the world.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

Lk 14:25-33

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, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

Reflection

In today's Gospel, Jesus instructs a great multitude, demanding three conditions for those who want to become His disciple. First, not to put anything before love for Him; Second, to carry one's cross; and finally, to renounce all for Him.

Jesus became famous because of His prodigious signs and miracles, which accredited Him as the awaited Messiah. Many wanted to follow Him because of these signs; however, Jesus was clear from the beginning about His mission. Jesus does not want to deceive anyone; His sincerity is stunning, and everyone who wants to follow Him has to comply with the conditions.

Jesus' logic is different from the one expected from the crowd. It is not a triumphalist logic but the one of the cross. He knows well what awaits Him in Jerusalem and the path the Father asks Him to travel. And this path is precisely that of the cross and self-sacrifice to forgive our sins. Following Jesus, therefore, does not mean participating in a triumphal procession. It means sharing his merciful love, entering into his great work of mercy for every man and all men.

Every disciple who wishes to follow Jesus takes part in His mission. The disciple can not be a spectator, but he must carry on Jesus' mission. The Christian detaches himself from everything and rediscovers everything in the logic of the Gospel, which is the logic of love and service.

Jesus exemplifies his point by telling them two parables: the plan to build a tower and the king who is about to go to war. Just like the king who evaluates whether or not it is appropriate to enter the battle, the disciple of Christ must regard with great wisdom and consideration if he wants to join Jesus' mission. It is the solid and courageous decision to renounce evil and its seductions and choose the good, willing to pay in person for all this entails. This is carrying one's cross.