Posted on 09/08/2019 7:00:08 AM PDT by Salvation
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus defines four demands of discipleship. Let’s look at them one by one.
I. The CONTEXT of discipleship – The text says that large crowds were following Jesus and so He turned to address them. Just about any time you find mention of a big crowd in the Bible, fasten your seat belt and prepare for a hard teaching. Jesus didn’t trust large crowds, who were often merely after what they could get out of Him. They were looking for miracles, for multiplied (and free) bread, for physical healing, and for a fiery sermon.
So, upon sensing a large crowd of people, Jesus turned to address them. He then gives a series of hard teachings, which almost seem designed to thin the ranks and distinguish true disciples from ones who are merely giving “lip service.”
Before discussing what Jesus says to them, let’s examine some other incidents in the Gospels that also illustrate His tendency to distrust big crowds:
Often the mention of a large crowd is followed by a hard teaching:
So, the context of discipleship is not usually with the crowd. Though many are called—indeed, all are called—few make the cut and become true disciples. There is a kind of remnant theology at work here, to be sure, but it is a common pattern that Jesus thins the ranks and distinguishes the many who are called from the few who are chosen.
This is not just a fact in the Scriptures; the Lord has often had to prune His Church. Even now we are seeing a large falling away, a pruning, as many who are not able to accept the hard sayings of Jesus and the Scriptures (about sexuality, forgiveness, love of one’s enemies, heroic charity, and generosity) depart. The context of discipleship is with the few rather than the many.
This insight about the context is also important today because there are many who argue that the Church should “get with the times,” that she should listen to the people, that she should give them what they want, that she should reflect the views of the faithful. The role of the Church is not to reflect the views of its members, as if it were some political party. Rather, it is to reflect the views of its Founder, Jesus Christ, who handed on His teachings through the apostles and evangelists. More often than not, these teachings will not be in lockstep with what is popular or current.
The context of discipleship is often at odds with great crowds of people. We see this when Jesus turns on them. The first reading today reminds us: For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty (Wisdom 9:13-16).
II. The CENTRALITY of discipleship – Jesus indicates that if we are going to be His disciples, we can love no one more than we love Him. This extends even to our family relationships: If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
The use of the word “hate” here does not mean that we are to have contempt for others or to nourish unrighteous anger toward them. Rather, this is a Jewish idiom. For some reason, the Hebrew language has very few comparative words such as more/less and greater/ fewer. If one preferred vanilla ice cream to chocolate, one would say (in ancient Hebrew), “I love vanilla but hate chocolate.” This would mean that I prefer vanilla to chocolate, not that I actually hate chocolate.
So, what Jesus means is that we cannot prefer anyone or anything to Him. He is first; He is number one. Jesus says that He must have absolute priority over even the closest human relationships in your life.
If there’s anyone in your life who can talk you out of obeying God, forget ’em! Anyone who keeps you away from God has too much power. Anyone who can keep you from your Christian walk has too much power. Anyone who can pull you into unrighteousness has too much power.
If your boss instructs you to do something immoral, just say, “Sorry, Boss.” If your accountant advises you to save money by paying unjust wages or cutting necessary benefits, say “Sorry, no.” If your boyfriend or girlfriend pressures you to have sex, say, “Sorry, Dear.” If your “friend” pressures you to use drugs, abuse alcohol, skip school, or steal, say, “Sorry, Buddy.” If your spouse calls you away from teaching your children the ways of faith, tell him/her “Sorry, Honey.” If your child pressures you to give him something unwise or sinful, say, “Sorry, child of mine.”
Do you get it? No one is to have priority over Jesus Christ and what He teaches. The word “hate” here may not be meant literally, but if Jesus really does have priority in our life it may cause some people to say to us, “You’re so devoted to Him that I think you hate me!”
We need to attend to this, because too many of our human relationships cause us to compromise our walk with Jesus. Some people have too much power over us, a power that belongs to the Lord.
III. The CROSS of discipleship – Jesus says, Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. If we want to be a disciple, we must be willing to carry the cross.
The cross comes in many forms, but in the end, being a disciple does not mean that we are in any way exempt from the troubles and trials of this world. Jesus indicates that we will be hated (cf Jn 15:20), persecuted, and sorely tempted by the world. If we hold out, though, victory will be ours.
It is a simple rule: No cross, no crown. There are some who want to preach a prosperity gospel. There are others who demand a gospel stripped of its moral imperatives. Still others demand an updated faith that tickles their ears and affirms their sinful behavior.
Jesus points to the cross not to torture us but because it is the only way to glory. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Now, for a little while you may have to suffer various trials (1 Peter 1:6). This wisdom is already evident if we consider that even in this world, all of what we value most (family, talents, career, achievements) comes at the cost of sacrifice. Sacrifices bring blessings. Jesus is not into pain for its own sake but because sacrifice brings blessings.
IV. The COST of discipleship – Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, “This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.” Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
In this teaching, Jesus asks us to count the cost. Discipleship is costly. Jesus gives the images of someone building a tower and of a king going into battle. These examples may seem distant to us, so Jesus “brings it home” by saying, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
The Greek word ἀποτάσσω (apotasso), translated here as “renounce,” also means “to say farewell.” The Lord is reminding us that Heaven costs everything. Ultimately, we must say farewell to everyone and everything we consider precious in this world in order to inherit Heaven. This is not something that happens all at once when we die.
On one level, we give back everything to God little by little as we go through life. We have all given back loved ones. Perhaps we have already given back our youthful physique, strength, or good health. Ultimately, though, we will give it all back.
On another level, the Lord is saying that we must be willing to part now with anything that hinders discipleship. Many things attach us to this world and make discipleship difficult. Are we willing to simplify our life and focus on being a disciple? Or will we continue setting down roots here and amassing a worldly kingdom?
What’s it going to be: the world or the Kingdom? Count the cost. See what it costs and then decide. In the end, Heaven costs everything—but you’re going to lose it all anyway. It is a wise man who gives away what he cannot keep in order to gain what he could never buy.
What Jesus is looking for are disciples who, having counted the cost and realistically assessed it, are nonetheless ready to be His disciples. Tag-alongs, lip-service Christians, and fair-weather friends need not apply. In today’s Gospel Jesus is teaching a big crowd in a way that is meant to distinguish true disciples from those merely giving lip service. We are asked to ponder in which category we fall.
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Very, very good homily.
You would think Jesus was warning us about relationships with narcissists!
If God really does have priority in our life it may cause some people to say to us, “You’re so devoted to Him that I think you hate me!” They try to manipulate you away from your relationship with God and gain your devotion to them.
We need to attend to this, because too many of our human relationships cause us to compromise our walk with God. Some people have too much power over us, a power that belongs to God.
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 NASB
Now, compare the following.
There is no mention of the necessity of "having to be devout" to Mary in Scripture.
IF that were a key element of the salvation process, Jesus left that out.
But it's not. Roman Catholicism has added a false teaching regarding the need to be devout to Mary for salvation.
It is false and is to be rejected.
There is only one path to salvation and that is trusting in Christ and only Christ for salvation.
****
| The Glories of Mary | Romans 10:5-13 NASB | |
| Saint Anselm says, ‘that as it is impossible for one who is not devout to Mary, and consequently not protected by her, to be saved, so is it impossible for one who recommends himself to her, and consequently is beloved by her, to be lost.’ Saint Antoninus repeats the same thing, and almost in the same words: ‘As it is impossible for those from whom Mary turns her eyes of mercy, to be saved, so also are those towards whom she turns these eyes, and for whom she prays, necessarily saved and glorified.’ Consequently the clients of Mary will necessarily be saved. (p184) |
5For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BEDISAPPOINTED.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”. |
|
| But, on the other hand, Mary says in the words applied to her by the church, “He that hearkeneth to me shall not be confounded;’ that is to say, he who hearkeneth to what I say shall not be lost. On which Saint Bonaventure says, ‘O Lady, he who honours thee will be far from damnation.’ And this will still be the case, Saint Hilary observes, even should the person, during the past time have greatly offended God. ‘However great a sinner he may have been,’ says the saint, ‘if he shews himself devout to Mary he will never perish.’(p185) |
14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. |
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Bible quotes from NASB
RCC position on Mary from The Glories of Mary, translated from the Italian of St Alphonsus De; Liguori, Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, by A Father of the Same Congregation LONDON: Printed for the Redemptorist Fathers, St Mary’s, Clapham, Surrey; to be had of J.J. Wallwork, 42, Great Marlborough Street, Regent Street, and of all Booksellers. MDCCCLII p184-185.
https://books.google.com/books?id=7uwCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA145&lpg=PA145&dq=All+power+is+given+to+thee+in+Heaven+and+on+earth,+so+that+at+the+command+of+Mary+all+obey-even+God&source=bl&ots=myZ-FaiMh7&sig=ivbaVW-mCAErqzlDyoebpOj0EJE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrmYK1rcTYAhVPtFMKHVeRBdAQ6AEIOzAG#v=twopage&q&f=false
Very true. I wonder if that’s one reason for: “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.”
I’ve made false idols out of people when I made my value and emotions subjects of their opinions and approval.
Perhaps that’s why my mind and I initially struggle with concepts such as in Luke 14:
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,When the pruning comes? It’s not the best time one can have.
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
...”
As a “for what it’s worth”? You seem to enjoy studying, perhaps you will find much to chew on here:
Your Holy Mother Will Teach You Apocalypse, Chapter 12I wasn’t “raised with Mary”, so to speak, so I’m still learning about Her ... from the Source if/when possible ... while trying to avoid the traps!
January 26, 1988
My understanding so far: If I am a child of God? Then, She is my Mother, too.
Very true.
This is why Freedom is neccessary for choosing God and spiritual growth. If someone else is holding your individual power or will, it is not available for you to surrender to God.
No.
No where in Scripture is Mary accorded blanket status as every believer's mom.
As a seeker/observer, I see that approximately 1/3 of organized Christianity seems to believe this way and interprets Scriptures, like in Revelation 12, with this as part of their thinking.
Based on this understanding, they then act as they see fit in response to those who do have that belief.
Everyone can believe and do as they wish. He gave us all free will to figure things out or not.
However, as an observer? I note with some curiosity how in Rev.12 the Dragon’s tail swept 1/3 of the stars from Heaven.
And, how, coincidentally in our times, 1/3 of modern organized Christianity has separated themselves from the rest of His Church on earth.
Not only that, they are also somewhat hostile to Mother Mary and to Her Works in history and those today in our times.
Naturally, this 1/3 are also hostile to 2/3rds who do see Mother Mary as “the Mother of God” or as “Theotokos” or “the Queen of Heaven”.
This separated 1/3 uses Her as one of their ‘by the book’ justifications for their separating themselves as they have.
And She is also useful for their maintaining a justified hostility, as “accusers of the brethren’, if you will, against fellow believers who have also accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
A curious coincidence? I really don’t know.
Sometimes I wonder if it was only 1/3 of the Pharisees who had a perhaps similar blindness and hostility for Him and for His Works in His time, too.
The thread is about discipleship; please stick to the subject.
**Four Depictions of Discipleship**
Just your usual BS, trying to start a fight over something that has nothing to do with the subject. I’ve got an idea! Why don’t you just go to Msgr Pope’s blog and debate him, since you’re the self-appointed master theologian of protestantism?
Continuing to point out what has been observed when the argument goes against them that it is usually the Roman Catholic who resorts to the personal attack and/or profanity.
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