Discipleship & Renunciation

Today’s Gospel message is direct, sobering, and even a bit frightening. “Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions,” says Jesus, “cannot be my disciple.”

The Word Received: A Homily for Every Sunday of the Year: Year C 56. Twenty-Third Sunday of the Year: Renunciation and Discipleship

Today’s Gospel message is direct, sobering, and even a bit frightening. “Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions,” says Jesus, “cannot be my disciple.”

But his message is even more demanding than that. The Gospel reading opens with Jesus having a great crowd following him and he turned to them and said: “If any one 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.”

What? Separating yourself (that’s what “hating” means in this context) from parents, spouse, children, brothers and sisters, even from your very self as a precondition for following Christ? That doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. Indeed it flies in the face of the loves and loyalties we are expected to have, the commitments we are expected to keep, the commitments we are bound to keep by virtue of promises made and our state in life.

And notice that Jesus is not speaking only to single men and women here—the unattached, as we sometimes call them—the ones who in our day might answer a call to priesthood or religious life; no, he is speaking to all of us, married and single alike. But how are we to understand what he is saying? How can we resist the temptation simply to brush these words aside, dismissing them out of hand as not applicable to us, and then just going about our usual business? That’s not an option. We have to be attentive to his words. We meet him there in the Gospel; you cannot simply tell him this doesn’t apply to you. It does apply, but how?

Let me speak to you today about renunciation and discipleship. The Gospel urges us to travel light, to get by with just the essentials. There is something freeing in that, and the Gospel, after all, is really about freedom. The truth will make you free, Jesus said. Your faith will free you, he promised. So let’s exercise our freedom in the face of these Gospel lessons to say something about renunciation (and the freedom it brings) and discipleship (which is the vocation each one of us has).

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me,” says Jesus to you today, “cannot be my disciple.” Well, surely, you want to be his disciple, so you have to confront the cross, look it in the eye, shoulder it and be on your way on the path of discipleship. The cross here is a metaphor for duty, sacrifice, self-denial, service to others; the cross is a way of talking about life’s challenges at any age and life’s limits as the elder years set in. Illness is a cross. Retirement can be a cross. Loneliness can be a cross for many. There is much more than voluntary self-denial associated with the cross. There is risk (I’m not speaking of rash recklessness) as well as worry for those of you who are young along with a lot of hard work ahead of you. There is defeat and failure at times and frequent discouragement along the way. There is what you might call just the inescapable burden of living. All of this can be viewed as a cross to carry. And the short-term goal, as you know from what happened to Jesus on Calvary, is not an attractive one, although it is through the cross that you move to victory, just as through death you move on to eternal life.

You need courage. Jesus knows this as he invites you to take up your cross and follow him. He may have inspired Hemingway to write that courage (Hemingway called it “guts”) is “grace under pressure.” Jesus will supply the grace. Life will impose the pressure. You have to be free enough to live bravely; hence the need for renunciation in your life.

We Christians are invited to live an ethic of renunciation. We have to say no to ourselves. We have to distance ourselves from things and, at times, from others whom we are called upon to love. Hence Jesus can speak of “hating” your parents, spouse, children, friends—not in a sense of rejecting them, certainly not in a sense of harming them or neglecting them, just not permitting them (and your love for them) to come between you and Jesus. Does that sound strange? Not if you take it to mean that you and they should be going to Jesus together. Your journey to and with them is bound up with your journey to him. Similarly with your possessions. You have to renounce them in the sense of not permitting yourself to be possessed by your possessions. That kind of possession can happen without your even being aware of it. Materialism and consumerism are viruses that abound in contemporary society. They can attack you at any time. You’ve got to immunize yourself against being possessed by your possessions by taking large doses of the Gospel message. One such message is up for your consideration today. It is a message of renunciation and discipleship.

Along with what I’ve already quoted from today’s Gospel message, you can hear Jesus say: If one of you who decides “to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion,” you’re looking at trouble. And that’s a fair observation. It too has something to say about discipleship. You don’t want to begin and not follow through. You don’t want to start out and not complete the journey. You don’t want to begin without having sufficient resources to make that discipleship solid and enduring. Have your eyes wide open. Know what you are getting into.

Similarly, Jesus suggests that you put yourself in the shoes of one going into war—“a king marching into battle, would [he] not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?” The arithmetic is simple and compelling. But first you have to do the calculation! You have to have the facts; you have to plan; you have to be strategic. And in this all-important matter of discipleship the strategy is not complicated. You have to unburden yourself of the hold your possessions might have on you. You cannot be tied down with attachments. You have to be free to move, to move wherever Christ, who is always on the move, might be calling you.

That’s what disciples do and all of you are called to discipleship!

57

But his message is even more demanding than that. The Gospel reading opens with Jesus having a great crowd following him and he turned to them and said: “If any one 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.”

A large crowd had been following Jesus, perhaps because of the great miracles he had performed—raising people from the dead (7:14–15) and giving food to thousands (9:12–17)—or because he had courageously confronted the religious authorities (13:17). For whatever reason, they were following him. Jesus turned around and told them flatly what it meant to truly follow him. They would have to give up everything, even the most treasured relationships with their families, to put Jesus first in their lives.

What? Separating yourself (that’s what “hating” means in this context) from parents, spouse, children, brothers and sisters, even from your very self as a precondition for following Christ? That doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of sense. Indeed it flies in the face of the loves and loyalties we are expected to have, the commitments we are expected to keep, the commitments we are bound to keep by virtue of promises made and our state in life.

Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 361). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

And notice that Jesus is not speaking only to single men and women here—the unattached, as we sometimes call them—the ones who in our day might answer a call to priesthood or religious life; no, he is speaking to all of us, married and single alike. But how are we to understand what he is saying? How can we resist the temptation simply to brush these words aside, dismissing them out of hand as not applicable to us, and then just going about our usual business? That’s not an option. We have to be attentive to his words. We meet him there in the Gospel; you cannot simply tell him this doesn’t apply to you. It does apply, but how?

And notice that Jesus is not speaking only to single men and women here—the unattached, as we sometimes call them—the ones who in our day might answer a call to priesthood or religious life; no, he is speaking to all of us, married and single alike. But how are we to understand what he is saying? How can we resist the temptation simply to brush these words aside, dismissing them out of hand as not applicable to us, and then just going about our usual business? That’s not an option. We have to be attentive to his words. We meet him there in the Gospel; you cannot simply tell him this doesn’t apply to you. It does apply, but how?

Let me speak to you today about renunciation and discipleship. The Gospel urges us to travel light, to get by with just the essentials. There is something freeing in that, and the Gospel, after all, is really about freedom. The truth will make you free, Jesus said. Your faith will free you, he promised. So let’s exercise our freedom in the face of these Gospel lessons to say something about renunciation (and the freedom it brings) and discipleship (which is the vocation each one of us has).

Renunciation

We Christians are invited to live an ethic of renunciation. We have to say no to ourselves. We have to distance ourselves from things and, at times, from others whom we are called upon to love. Hence Jesus can speak of “hating” your parents, spouse, children, friends—not in a sense of rejecting them, certainly not in a sense of harming them or neglecting them, but not permitting them (and your love for them) to come between you and Jesus.

Similarly with your possessions. You have to renounce them in the sense of not permitting yourself to be possessed by your possessions. That kind of possession can happen without your even being aware of it.

Discipleship

Materialism and consumerism are viruses that abound in contemporary society. They can attack you at any time. You’ve got to immunize yourself against being possessed by your possessions by taking large doses of the Gospel message. One such message is up for your consideration today. It is a message of renunciation and discipleship.

Byron, W. J. (2012). The Word Received: A Homily for Every Sunday of the Year: Year C (pp. 201–204). New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

The Form of Martyrdom Amid Civil Peace Is the Death of Self-Will. Symeon the New Theologian:

“In times past, when heresies prevailed, many chose death through martyrdom and various tortures. Now, when we through the grace of Christ live in a time of profound and perfect peace, we learn for sure that cross and death consist in nothing else than the complete putting to death of self-will.”

Discipleship

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me,” says Jesus to you today, “cannot be my disciple.”

The cross here is a metaphor for duty, sacrifice, self-denial, service to others; the cross is a way of talking about life’s challenges at any age and life’s limits as the elder years set in. Illness is a cross. Retirement can be a cross. Loneliness can be a cross for many. There is much more than voluntary self-denial associated with the cross. There is risk (I’m not speaking of rash recklessness) as well as worry for those of you who are young along with a lot of hard work ahead of you.

And the short-term goal, as you know from what happened to Jesus on Calvary, is not an attractive one, although it is through the cross that you move to victory, just as through death you move on to eternal life.

You need courage. Life will impose the pressure. You have to be free enough to live bravely; hence the need for renunciation in your life.

Discipleship requires discipline. It takes discipline to embrace a small cross or a huge one. In order for a soul to be united with God, it must first detach itself from everything that could become an obstacle to union with God. Sin must go first. Then other inordinate attachments of the heart, even good things, must be released. God wants to give every good gift to His children. But in order to receive blessings from God, hands must be open. Clenched fists that cling to material things or relationships cannot accept supernatural gifts from above.

Is your interest in living for God halfhearted? The time may come for you to make hard choices because God doesn’t take fourth priority for long.

Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 362). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

“In times past, when heresies prevailed, many chose death through martyrdom and various tortures. Now, when we through the grace of Christ live in a time of profound and perfect peace, we learn for sure that cross and death consist in nothing else than the complete putting to death of self-will.”

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me,” says Jesus to you today, “cannot be my disciple.”

The cross here is a metaphor for duty, sacrifice, self-denial, service to others; the cross is a way of talking about life’s challenges at any age and life’s limits as the elder years set in. Illness is a cross. Retirement can be a cross. Loneliness can be a cross for many. There is much more than voluntary self-denial associated with the cross. There is risk (I’m not speaking of rash recklessness) as well as worry for those of you who are young along with a lot of hard work ahead of you.

And the short-term goal, as you know from what happened to Jesus on Calvary, is not an attractive one, although it is through the cross that you move to victory, just as through death you move on to eternal life.

You need courage. Life will impose the pressure. You have to be free enough to live bravely; hence the need for renunciation in your life.

Renunciation

We Christians are invited to live an ethic of renunciation. We have to say no to ourselves. We have to distance ourselves from things and, at times, from others whom we are called upon to love. Hence Jesus can speak of “hating” your parents, spouse, children, friends—not in a sense of rejecting them, certainly not in a sense of harming them or neglecting them, just not permitting them (and your love for them) to come between you and Jesus. Does that sound strange? Not if you take it to mean that you and they should be going to Jesus together. Your journey to and with them is bound up with your journey to him. Similarly with your possessions. You have to renounce them in the sense of not permitting yourself to be possessed by your possessions. That kind of possession can happen without your even being aware of it. Materialism and consumerism are viruses that abound in contemporary society. They can attack you at any time. You’ve got to immunize yourself against being possessed by your possessions by taking large doses of the Gospel message. One such message is up for your consideration today. It is a message of renunciation and discipleship.

We Christians are invited to live an ethic of renunciation. We have to say no to ourselves. We have to distance ourselves from things and, at times, from others whom we are called upon to love. Hence Jesus can speak of “hating” your parents, spouse, children, friends—not in a sense of rejecting them, certainly not in a sense of harming them or neglecting them, just not permitting them (and your love for them) to come between you and Jesus.

Similarly with your possessions. You have to renounce them in the sense of not permitting yourself to be possessed by your possessions. That kind of possession can happen without your even being aware of it.

Materialism and consumerism are viruses that abound in contemporary society. They can attack you at any time. You’ve got to immunize yourself against being possessed by your possessions by taking large doses of the Gospel message. One such message is up for your consideration today. It is a message of renunciation and discipleship.

Similarly with your possessions. You have to renounce them in the sense of not permitting yourself to be possessed by your possessions. That kind of possession can happen without your even being aware of it. Materialism and consumerism are viruses that abound in contemporary society. They can attack you at any time. You’ve got to immunize yourself against being possessed by your possessions by taking large doses of the Gospel message. One such message is up for your consideration today. It is a message of renunciation and discipleship.

Similarly, Jesus suggests that you put yourself in the shoes of one going into war—“a king marching into battle, would [he] not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?” The arithmetic is simple and compelling. But first you have to do the calculation! You have to have the facts; you have to plan; you have to be strategic. And in this all-important matter of discipleship the strategy is not complicated. You have to unburden yourself of the hold your possessions might have on you. You cannot be tied down with attachments. You have to be free to move, to move wherever Christ, who is always on the move, might be calling you.

Discipleship requires discipline. It takes discipline to embrace a small cross or a huge one. In order for a soul to be united with God, it must first detach itself from everything that could become an obstacle to union with God. Sin must go first. Then other inordinate attachments of the heart, even good things, must be released. God wants to give every good gift to His children. But in order to receive blessings from God, hands must be open. Clenched fists that cling to material things or relationships cannot accept supernatural gifts from above.

That’s what disciples do and all of you are called to discipleship!

57

Byron, W. J. (2012). The Word Received: A Homily for Every Sunday of the Year: Year C (pp. 201–204). New York; Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

The Form of Martyrdom Amid Civil Peace Is the Death of Self-Will. Symeon the New Theologian:

Oden, T. C., & Crosby, C. (Eds.). (2009). Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings: Lectionary Cycle C (p. 210). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.

“In times past, when heresies prevailed, many chose death through martyrdom and various tortures. Now, when we through the grace of Christ live in a time of profound and perfect peace, we learn for sure that cross and death consist in nothing else than the complete putting to death of self-will.”

Oden, T. C., & Crosby, C. (Eds.). (2009). Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings: Lectionary Cycle C (p. 210). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.

Believers must be diligent so that their commitment to Christ does not become weak or ineffective. Discipleship requires discipline. It takes discipline to embrace a small cross or a huge one. In order for a soul to be united with God, it must first detach itself from everything that could become an obstacle to union with God. Sin must go first. Then other inordinate attachments of the heart, even good things, must be released. God wants to give every good gift to His children. But in order to receive blessings from God, hands must be open. Clenched fists that cling to material things or relationships cannot accept supernatural gifts from above.

The Gospel of Luke (p. 124). Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing.

Is your interest in living for God halfhearted? The time may come for you to make hard choices because God doesn’t take fourth priority for long. If you make career your idol, or sports or wealth, perhaps you should reevaluate. You will have to decide: to what are you really devoted? to whom are you really loyal? Following Jesus must be your first priority.

Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 362). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

From Reflection to Wisdom

Ponessa, J. L., & Manhardt, L. W. (2015). The Gospel of Luke (p. 124). Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing.

The Gospel of Luke (p. 124). Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing.

Oden, T. C., & Crosby, C. (Eds.). (2009). Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings: Lectionary Cycle C (p. 210). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books.Ponessa, J. L., & Manhardt, L. W. (2015). The Gospel of Luke (p. 124). Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing.

Following in the Footsteps of Jesus: Meditations on the Gospels for Year C Chapter 23: Responsible Realism: Responsible Realism: Estimate the Cost (Luke 14:25–33) (Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time)

It would be foolish in the present crisis to act blindly and unthinkingly. We would expose ourselves to failure, frustration and even ridicule. As the parable warns, an unfinished tower would only invite the contempt of people toward the builder. We must not forget the realistic and humble words of Jesus inviting his disciples to become the leaven in the midst of people, or salt to bring a new flavor to the lives of all.

Jesus invites us, first of all, to reflect in the mature manner in which the two protagonists of the parables «sit down» to reflect.

If you make career your idol, or sports or wealth, perhaps you should reevaluate. You will have to decide: to what are you really devoted? to whom are you really loyal? Following Jesus must be your first priority.

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 13: Humility (Luke 14)

Believers must be diligent so that their commitment to Christ does not become weak or ineffective. Discipleship requires discipline. It takes discipline to embrace a small cross or a huge one. In order for a soul to be united with God, it must first detach itself from everything that could become an obstacle to union with God. Sin must go first. Then other inordinate attachments of the heart, even good things, must be released. God wants to give every good gift to His children. But in order to receive blessings from God, hands must be open. Clenched fists that cling to material things or relationships cannot accept supernatural gifts from above.

Jesus knew that His Apostles would follow Him and embrace martyrdom in many cases. He encourages them to count the cost and prepare. If we cannot deny ourselves in small ways, how would we ever have the courage to face martyrdom? It is in denying ourselves in small ways that we can prepare for a holy death.

Pagola, J. A. (2012). Following in the Footsteps of Jesus: Meditations on the Gospels for Year C. (R. Luciani, Ed., V. de Souza, Trans.) (p. 130). Miami, FL: Convivium Press.

Believe What You Read: Timeless Homilies for Deacons: Liturgical Cycle C Homily 58: Holy Wisdom: Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Wisdom is waiting for those who seek her. It is Wisdom who enables us to apply the gospel message to the particular circumstances of our lives. Those who find Wisdom know what possessions they must renounce in order to be a disciple of Jesus. To the man addicted to alcohol or drugs, Wisdom might help him to see that the issue is not what he possesses but rather what possesses him. The woman who lives in fear of life’s uncertainties might be counseled by Holy Wisdom to let go of her fears, not her BMW or her stylish clothes. And some, perhaps some young person sitting here today, may learn from Wisdom that he or she is being called to truly renounce material possessions and accept a calling to the priesthood, religious life, or even a monastery. In each case, it is the feminine voice of God, Holy Wisdom, who enlightens, counsels, reassures those who struggle honestly with the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel.

Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 362). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Believe What You Read: Timeless Homilies for Deacons: Liturgical Cycle C Homily 58: Holy Wisdom: Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Believe What You Read: Timeless Homilies for Deacons: Liturgical Cycle C Homily 58: Holy Wisdom: Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

or daughter more

To the man addicted to alcohol or drugs, Wisdom might help him to see that the issue is not what he possesses but rather what possesses him. The woman who lives in fear of life’s uncertainties might be counseled by Holy Wisdom to let go of her fears, not her BMW or her stylish clothes. And some, perhaps some young person sitting here today, may learn from Wisdom that he or she is being called to truly renounce material possessions and accept a calling to the priesthood, religious life, or even a monastery.

Believe What You Read: Timeless Homilies for Deacons: Liturgical Cycle C Homily 58: Holy Wisdom: Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

May Christ sent the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts so that gradually we will love Him as he deserves and love everyone and everything in Him!