23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C
Wisdom 9:13-19b
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14:25-33
We prefer to have everything under our control; therefore, we plan, have A, B, C options, a backup plan and insurance. We do not like to be vulnerable. We want to secure everything possible – health, property, car, personal belongings, etc. There is nothing wrong with this attitude. Nevertheless, certain aspects of our life do not work in this way. Relations for example. You cannot ensure a relationship, even less put it on insurance. Necessarily, you are vulnerable. The same applies to our relationship with Jesus. Today, as we listen to this Gospel, he makes it very clear.
There are three principles to consider – hate your father, mother, wife, etc.; calculate the effort to build; and finally accept there is someone much stronger than you. What is the point of this requirement? Jesus again makes it clear: Any one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:33). The Greek original means who does not detach/renounce/set away from what is under his control. In other words, being his disciple, you are not in charge of this relation. You are not the one to set the direction, to control or even secure anything.
It is this climax that explains the three requirements. To hate your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even one’s own life (v. 26) is figurative saying, otherwise Jesus’ command to love your neighbor as yourself does not make any sense (Mt 22:36-40). Such a strong expression emphasizes that no one and nothing can take the place that belongs to Jesus. There is no one and nothing that you can consider more important than him, and therefore, there is no other ‘secure, reliable backup plan’ but him. You cannot base your life on your spouse, children, parents – your family ties, how great and strong they may be. Not even on your own skills, talents and experiences (one’s own life). Only Jesus. It is evident that Jesus does not take you away from your biological and human relations. He is not stripping you of your talents and skills, but they are not the decisive elements for your discipleship. Carrying the cross and following Jesus is the critical principle. Imitating his lifestyle.
To build a tower, literally a fortified high structure that saves from attacks and allows to control waste territories, recalls the image of an accomplished life, where everything is secured. You cannot build such a life on your own. You do not have “the resources” necessary to accomplish it. Even though you try your best, you will end up as a fool. It is a matter of a second and all the efforts will burn up like straw! Sickness, betrayal, loss of a beloved, etc. The onlookers will say ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ (v. 29-30). The laugh of the people recalls another verse from the Scripture: The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, “Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire.” (Ps 52:6-7). For the house of your life must be built on the rock. Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been built on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-and great was its fall.” (cf. Mt 7: 24-27)
Finally, to oppose another king advancing upon him with 20,000 troops, reminds the listener of the fact that you cannot fight God and win. You can fight him but never prevail. You can ignore him but never be truly successful and happy. The success lies in the fact of recognizing the Stronger and reconciling with him. This will bring peace!
You cannot be a disciple unless you give up total control of things you possess. You cannot be a disciple unless you become vulnerable with Jesus and set out to imitate him. We should never forget, however, that being a disciple implies a great mystery becoming a personal experience. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (Jn 14:23).
Related to: Look to the cloud of witnesses