23rd Sun C - From Fr Jude B

Dear Friend,

 

We sometimes wonder why we did a particular action or what made us say things we later regretted. There are also times we question the wisdom of God when we can't figure out some happenings in our lives. In life everything has a price tag, nothing is free. It is not easy to make wise decisions, we need God's help. What price have we paid for being a disciple? Have we pondered over it? Have a discerning weekend contemplating the cost of faith! Fr. Jude

 

Sunday Ref. 23rd Sun. of the Year: "Figuring out my life wisely with the help of God" 8-Sep-2013Readings: Wisdom 9: 13-18;           Philemon 9-10, 12-17;                Luke 14: 25-33;

 

Today's first reading from the Book of Wisdom reflects that it is hardly surprising that we have trouble figuring out the intentions of God when we have so much difficulty figuring out each other. There are times when we can't even understand those close to us; there are times we can't even figure out our own intentions, so how can we understand God and his ways? "Even though God has revealed himself through the Holy Spirit we cannot understand the mystery of God. We still have much to figure out.

 

Nearness and distance
Seamus Heaney, an Irish poet has reflected on his relationship with his father, a quiet man who had reason to believe that language was a kind of betrayal. In his writing Heaney tries to figure out his father whose inwardness and reserve are a constant challenge to a son who wants to fathom him and get close to him. The son starts following in his father's footsteps but he later discovers that their skills are different: the son's new produce is poems not potatoes. There doesn't appear to be much common ground there; but even though their skills divide them, their roots keep them attached. Perhaps it is true to say that no matter how close people may be, everyone has a lot of figuring to do! - Much of our lives involve figuring out what is within our reach and what we can achieve in life.
Denis McBride in 'Seasons of the Heart'

 

In Luke's Gospel Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship and dedication needed to follow Him. Jesus presented two parables. He compared the Christian life to a building project and to warfare. Jesus pointed out that before someone wants to build a tower, he sits down and calculates the cost. If he does not have the resources to finish the tower, in all wisdom, he does not begin the project. Otherwise the project will end before it is completed and he will look foolish. So it is with disciples! In the second parable Jesus points to a king going to battle against an enemy far superior to him, who must calculate wisely the consequences. He must carefully consider his chances of winning. If the risk is too high, he must surrender unconditionally or else all will be lost. Jesus points out that so it is with Christian discipleship. We have to make wise choices. We cannot serve two masters. We have to be totally dedicated or else we will fall by the wayside. The choices we make are absolute, we cannot be lukewarm or half hearted. Jesus uses strong language to highlight the cost of discipleship: "If a man comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, yes, his own life too, he cannot be my disciple." A true disciple must be ready to forsake all to follow Jesus, he has to commit himself to a life of self-renunciation. True wisdom alone can guide us to this detachment from all to be attached to God alone. This is not accomplished by will power but by God-power, the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Hating father and motherThomas Moore was Lord Chancellor when Henry VIII was king of England. He was a successful lawyer, a great linguist and a renowned spiritual and political writer. When he refused to take an oath in the 'Act of Succession', which recognized the offspring of Henry and his second wife Anne Boleyn, as the heir to the throne, declaring Henry's first marriage with Catherine as null and void, and repudiating the Pope, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in the year 1534. His family implored him -for his sake and theirs- to take the oath; his beloved daughter Margaret took the oath thinking that this would induce her father to take the oath, but he refused. He spent fifteen lonely months in the prison -in poor health, isolated from other  prisoners, deprived of his beloved books; even paper and pen were not given to him. He was convicted of treason and sentenced to death. On July 1535, he was beheaded proclaiming that he was, "the king's good servant but God's first." St. Thomas Moore loved God more than his wife, his children, nay, even his life itself.
John Rose in 'John's Sunday Homilies'

 

Ready to pay the price?An English lady traveling in Germany left a valuable fur coat in charge of a German woman in the carriage. When she returned the German was wearing the coat and said it belonged to her. The guard tried in vain to find out to which of the two it belonged and finally sent her to the consul. The consul asked to examine the coat, and brought it back a few moments later saying, "This is a very serious affair; who so ever the coat belongs to has been smuggling cocaine. Here are the two packets I found in the coat."  The German woman excused herself and bowed out of the room saying: "Just my little joke." The English woman said: "I can't understand how they could have got there." The Consul replied: "Don't worry, it is only salt, that I put to find out whose coat it really was."
John Arbuthnot in 'More Quotes and Anecdotes

 

Pay nothing …you get nothing!A man came to buy a saddle for his horse. He saw a fine piece and asked, "How much?" "Five hundred rupees", the shop owner replied. "But that is too much," the man replied. "As it is the saddle is overly decorated. Remove some of the decoration and cut down the price." "All right" the shop owner said and took away some of the decoration. "Now it will be Rs. 400." "Rs. 400? Even that is too much. There is still some decoration you can remove." And so it went on till the price was brought down to Rs. 250. Even so the customer found the price too much. At last the shop owner said, "All right, sir. The saddle will cost you nothing." The buyer asked excitedly, "Nothing? Wonderful! What do I get? The shop owner told him. "Nothing." - We get according to our willingness to pay. This holds good in the spiritual realm too.
G. Francis Xavier in ''Inspiring Stories'

 

Keeper of the flameSometime ago the Los Angeles Times carried a moving story by reporter Dave Smith. It was about a modern Christian who, put God First in his life, other People second, and himself third. His name is Charlie DeLeo. After returning from Vietnam, He got a job as maintenance man at the Statue of Liberty. Charlie told the reporter that part of his job is to take care of the torch in the statue's hand and the crown on the statue's head. He has to make sure that the sodium vapour lights are always working and that the 200 glass windows in the torch and the crown are always clean. Pointing to the torch, Charlie said proudly, "That's my chapel. I dedicated it to the Lord, and I go up there and meditate on my breaks." But Charlie does other things for the Lord, as well. He received a commendation from the Red Cross after donating his 65th pint of blood. And since hearing of the work of Mother Teresa in India, he has given over $12,000 to her and to people like her. Charlie told the Los Angeles Times reporter: "I don't socialize much; don't have enough money to get married. I don't keep any of my money. After I got my job, I sponsored six orphans through those children's organizations." Charlie ended by telling the reporter that he calls himself the "Keeper of the Flame" of the Statue of Liberty. Later a park guide told the reporter: "Everybody knows Charlie is special. When he first gave himself that title, people smiled. But we all take it seriously now. To us, he's exactly what he says: 'Keeper of the Flame."
Mark Link in 'Sunday Homilies'

 

May we conscientiously and generously follow the Master!

 

Fr. Jude Botelho

BotelhoJude@gmail.com