Weekly Reflections for September 4, 2022

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Lk 14:25-33), Jesus spoke about the cost of discipleship. Our Lord addressed a crowd, repeatedly telling the people that they must love God above everything else, even family and life itself. Life is sacred, and family is sacred, but God is the highest priority.

So, what does this mean for us today? Jesus is saying that He wants us to totally surrender ourselves to Him. To follow Our Lord as disciples requires a serious commitment of time, talent, treasure…that is, to give ourselves fully. In this way, we faithful can bring the kingdom of heaven to earth day by day, task by task, prayer by prayer.

This is not to say that we should sell our possessions and live as nomads. Simply put, we need to make Jesus Christ our priority. Today and for the rest of our lives, He asks us to choose Him over the distractions, the pleasures, and the vanity of the world.

Let’s ask ourselves what we value most in life. Can we give 20 minutes to pray the Rosary, one of the most powerful prayers we can offer? Do we go to Mass every Sunday to receive the lifesaving gift that Jesus gave us in the Eucharist? Do we share our faith with friends and family, especially our youth, so they may see the good Our Lord brings about through us? Do we thank God for everything He has given us?

Yes, sometimes it seems like a lot to ask. But Jesus loves us with everything He has. Let’s return that love to Him.

The Catechism teaches us:

2544 Jesus enjoins his disciples to prefer him to everything and everyone and bids them “renounce all that [they have]” for his sake and that of the Gospel. Shortly before his passion, he gave them the example of the poor widow of Jerusalem who, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on. The precept of detachment from riches is obligatory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.