Pastor's Message

 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                                                          “If anyone comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and                                 sisters; even his own Life, he cannot be my disciple.”   Luke 14:25

           “For who can learn the Counsel of God?” “Or who can discern what the Lord wills?” … “Who has learned his counsel, unless given Wisdom by him and sent his Holy Spirit from on
high?”
           This Sunday, the author of the book of Wisdom, again, is calling on the people of God, to a realization of how blessed they were to have, the knowledge of the One True God. The author, reflects on God’s own revelation to his people and acknowledged the limitations of a Soul. He exalts, in the realization of being given the power by God, who is his Creator and Father; “And thus, the paths of those on earth are set right and people are taught what pleases Him, and are saved.”
           The Power in God’s wisdom is always present in all ages and times. This Power has a single purpose of illumining people, as they encounter God, in His Generous Revelation of Himself to humanity. Listen to the words of our Catholic Catechism. reminding us of the finality of God’s Revelation; # 65 “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our Fathers by the Prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son.” (Heb. 1:1-3)
           Christ, the Son of God made man, is the Father’s one, perfect, and unsurpassable Word. In him, God has said everything; and there will be no other word than this one. St. John of the Cross, among others, commenting on this says, “In giving us his Son, his only Word, for he possesses no other, he spoke everything to us at once in this single Word … and he has no more to say … because what he spoke before to the Prophets in part, he has now spoken all at once by giving us “the All,” who is His Son.
           The Saint continues, any person questioning God or desiring some vision or revelation would be guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending him, by not fixing his eyes entirely upon Jesus.” Christ Jesus is the mediator and fullness of God’s Revelation, and every disciple is called to accept him.
            In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches his disciples on the cost of discipleship; The cost of following him! “If anyone comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters; even his own Life, he cannot be my disciple.”
            The call is for “The Choice of God;” The call demands detachment, in order to fully embrace God. This is the wisdom of the wise planner, who has weighed in, the cost and made resolve to pursue building a tower with a firm foundation; His choice is God, who is all in all; and pursues him, with all his heart, with his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength.
            Our choice for God, many times, like in the case of Christ, may mean a cross. We need God’s strength to do his Will. Let us pray with St. Neumann; “Dear Lord, flood my Soul with your Spirit and Life. Penetrate and possess my whole being. Shine through me, that others may feel your Presence in my Soul. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shiniest.” Amen.          

†