September 05, 2010 23rd Ordinary Sunday Wis. 9:13-19; Phil. 9-10, 12-17; Lk. 14:25-33 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:   http://www.usccb.org/nab/090510.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   It is important to note that not everybody who followed Jesus was there for the same reason. Some followed Him because they were curious onlookers and some were spies from the camp of the day's religious and government leaders. They wanted to see what He might do that they could report back at headquarters. Some people came looking for healing and some looking for hope. And some followed after Him because they had committed themselves to being His disciples and to gleaning some new life direction from every message He preached. There was one thing in common among those who followed Him: They had committed themselves to following Him and to learn from Him as He journeyed along. Hence, Jesus addressed the multitude in no uncertain terms about just exactly what being one of His disciples entails.   Conditions of Discipleship:   * Place God above all else: To be a disciple of Christ costs you your family... We are to love God more than all of our family members. It does cost plenty. * Carry one’s cross: To be a disciple of Jesus costs us is life itself. * Give up everything one has: To be a disciple of Jesus Christ costs all of your material possessions.   Discipleship is a very demanding thing. When Jesus said we should be prepared to give up our possessions, He was calling His disciples to recognize that discipleship is never a cheap thing. What is more, He proved it when He went to the cross in our place. Jesus knows firsthand what it is to sacrifice, for He gave Himself up for us. Following Jesus is not an easy thing, but His word is still the best news this world has ever heard for bad times or good, and that is what you and I are called to remember together. Discipleship is a delightful thing, and discipleship is a determined thing. If you would follow Him, come with all you are and with all you have.   Christian discipleship is more than being part of the large crowd of good church members. It means being ready when God pulls us alone out of the crowd and confronts us with "the moment of making the ultimate decisions in life."     <<   Previous: 22nd Ordinary Sunday  | Next: 24th Ordinary Sunday >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year C)