Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, September 5, 2010:

Wisdom 9: 13-18b    

Psalm 90: 3-6, 12-17      

Philemon 9-10, 12-17    

Luke 14: 25-33

The Gospel is a continuation of Jesus' remarks and parables at the Pharisee's dinner party that we heard in last week's Gospel. (Don't take the best seat, don't do nice things just to get paid back, etc.) And we talked about the sense of freedom that can come from not being burdened by expectations and constant status-checking. In this week's reading, Jesus cranks up the heat another notch or two: you can't follow me unless you hate your family and your possessions! OUCH.

"Hate" is a strong, emotional word for us. The Semitic expression Jesus used is better indicted by a state of detachment. He's giving fair warning to all would-be disciples about where we have to place our priorities, and he's making no promises that such a choice will be all rainbows and sunshine. Who/what do you prefer: faithfulness to God, or protecting your investments, or fulfilling myriad social obligations? Even with this warning, Jesus isn't demanding 'all or nothing' (never talk with your parents again!), but keeping things in the proper perspective. If loving God IS your first priority, your lifestyle is going to sort itself out in a way that results in you being loving to family as well. And if your possessions don't own you, the freedom in that detachment allows you to be generous, trusting, and open to the hospitality of others.

And what does Jesus tell us by the parables about the builder and the armies? Slow down - know what you're getting into, take stock of your own gifts and fortitude, make sure you can make this commitment. Living deeply as a Christian carries a cost, our own cross to bear, and if we don't plan to have integrity about it, people WILL notice (e.g. cut off in traffic by the car with the fish symbol?! Nice.... really Christian!).

Discouraging? The Good News is that God doesn't leave us to flounder on our own... see the reading from the Book of Wisdom:

...Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

• In what sense might self-renunciation lead to fuller self-discovery?
• Is it possible to view the cross you bear as an eventual means to redemption (as Jesus' cross was the means for the redemption of us all?)?

There is no Catechumenate session this weekend. Have a happy and safe Labor Day holiday.