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'
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'
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
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'
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'
Mark Link in 'Sunday Homilies'
May we conscientiously and generously follow the Master!
Fr. Jude Botelho
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