Pastor's Letter 20220904 - 04 September 2022- Wisdom and Demands of Discipleship

[Father Michael]

September 4^th, 2022

23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Message from Father †Michael

Today’s Theme:  “Wisdom and the Demands of Discipleship”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

The book of Wisdom, written from a Greek-speaking Jew, in Alexandria, about two generations before Christ, (ca. 60 B.C.)  was written in answer to the Greek philosophical system—which threatened to overwhelm and dilute traditional Jewish religion and culture.  It served as an inspiration and encouragement to Jews, seeking to preserve their monotheistic concepts and traditional values.  

Today’s First Reading (Wisdom 8:13-18,) recounts Yahweh’s promise to Solomon, granting him anything for which he wished, in prayer.  As also recorded in Kings and Chronicles, he prayed for wisdom and understanding, necessary to govern his people well.  

~~~

Our Second Reading (Philemon 9-17,) is the only “personal letter” in the New Testament.  †Paul writes on behalf of Philemon, a slave of the prominent member of the Church at Colossae.  Onesimus had apparently run away from his master and may also have stolen something of value from him.  †Paul refers to Onesimus as “my child,” and even though he desired for him to remain  with him in service to the Gospel, he recognized Philemon’s property rights, and sent him back.  He asked that Onesimus be welcomed by his master as “a beloved brother in the Lord”—something quite significant for a slave.  In so doing, †Paul attempts to transform the relationship—from one of legality to one of love—at a time when slavery was rife in first century society.  

~~~

Statistically, it is known that fewer than 20% of Christians perform 100% of the services rendered to their community.  Volunteering, however, is not the same as discipleship, in that one can “opt to forego” one or another particular project.  In contrast, discipleship is not periodic—on one’s own terms or at one’s convenience!  Total, unconditional and limitless commitment to Christ is integral to the challenge for the disciple, who daily agrees to be converted to Him, in thought, word and deed.  

Our Gospel selection (Luke 14: 25-33,) occurs during Christ’s journey to Jerusalem, and is directed to the poor, crippled, blind and lame, from the highways and hedgerows, who had been invited to the Messianic banquet.  As they would learn, the invitation to the feast was just their “first step.”  They would also be required to “drink deeply of the cup” of Jesus’ suffering and death.  In the truest sense, this is the vocation of all who believe in our Blessed Lord, Jesus.  

His parable illustrates that the cost of discipleship is to forego the comforts and joys of security found in the family, so as to be tied completely to Christ, as one’s first priority.  In our efforts, we must prudently assess the possibilities of success of our mission, as Jesus illustrates by the parable of the king sending emissaries to sue for peace with a superior force, rather than squandering his inferior army.  The same foresight and wisdom is required of Jesus’ disciples, in our task of disseminating the Gospel.  

Wearing Chains

Dostoyevsky was only in his early twenties when he wrote his first book, which was entitled Poor Folk.  Proving a great success, he became famous, overnight.  The adulation might have gone to his head, except that, soon afterwards, he found himself being arrested.  He was sentenced to die, along with some others, wrongly accused of anarchy!  “Lucky” for him, he and his comrades avoided death, and instead, were sent to a prison camp in Siberia.  Released after four bleak years, it would be ten years before he returned to writing.  

Instead of becoming bitter and destroyed, his experience greatly “enriched” him!  His years of suffering became something from which he drew inspiration, and gave him great strength and authority.  When some critics asked, “What right have you to speak for the people? he would say, “Here is my right!” and pointed to the scars left by the chains on his legs.  After that, the questions were silenced.

When his friends expressed dismay at all his suffering, he would say: “Prison saved me!  Siberia and prison made me an entirely new person!  Only there was I able to lead a pure and happy life…to see myself clearly…and learn to understand Christ.  That ‘school’ strengthened my faith and awakened my love for those who bear their suffering with patience.  It also rekindled my love of Russia and the Russian people!”

We know that Jesus did not shy away from the difficulties, hardships and sacrifices required of those who followed Him.  Similarly, in his epistles, and from the Acts of the Apostles, we are given other great examples, such as those we read concerning the suffering and imprisonment of †Paul.  In our own time, we read how Mother Teresa often told those who wanted to join her in her mission to the homeless and the poor of Calcutta, that they should have “no doubt the suffering that their work would entail.”  

Following the Master

There is such a thing as “courage of the blind.”  But Jesus discouraged that, saying there is a place for common sense, for prudence, and for counting up the cost.  We must not take on more than that of which we are capable.  We may underestimate or overestimate ourselves.  We may need a challenge to bring out the best of us.  The most important thing, before taking on such a task, is “self-knowledge.”  

We know from Scripture that the apostles struggled at every point in their attempt to follow Jesus.  Yet, Jesus didn’t “write them off,” when they fell short.  It’s clear they learned from their failures, but only after Jesus’ death and resurrection, did they become his “true followers.”  By looking at such examples, we discover our own inadequacies. 

Let’s face it—it’s not easy to be a disciple of Christ!  Discipleship has some practical demands that one cannot escape under pain of betraying the Gospel!  Yet, we have many comfortable church-goers who gave little heed to the misery of the needy and the groaning of the poor.  Still, today, the Christian is called to renounce many things that are taken for granted by others.

It is one of the supreme handicaps of the Church that in it there are many people who would follow Christ “at a safe distance,” but very few real disciples, that is, people who actually do what He said.  Some “followers” melt away as soon as a demand is made of them, like snow before the sun.  Others are destroyed by opposition and criticism, like a fickle flame that is blown out by the first gust of wind.  

Nevertheless, the Gospel offers hope to Christians who fail.  Repentance and a second chance are always possible, because Jesus is generous with His grace to those who strive to answer His call.

May God Richly Bless You!

To view a recording of today's Holy Mass, click here:

Great is the Lord.docx