Daily Readings - Wed Nov 08 2017
First Reading - Romans 13.8-10
Romans
8You should owe nothing to anyone, except so as to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law9For example: You shall not commit adultery. You shall not kill. You shall not steal. You shall not speak false testimony. You shall not covet. And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself10The love of neighbor does no harm. Therefore, love is the plenitude of the law
Gospel - Luke 14.25-33
Luke
25Now great crowds traveled with him. And turning around, he said to them26"If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he is not able to be my disciple27And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me, is not able to be my disciple28For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it29Otherwise, after he will have laid the foundation and not been able to finish it, everyone who sees it may begin to mock him30saying: ‘This man began to build what he was not able to finish.31Or, what king, advancing to engage in war against another king, would not first sit down and consider whether he may be able, with ten thousand, to meet one who comes against him with twenty thousand32If not, then while the other is still far away, sending a delegation, he would ask him for terms of peace33Therefore, everyone of you who does not renounce all that he possesses is not able to be my disciple
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of love and discipleship. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. He emphasizes that genuine love for our neighbor does no harm and embodies the essence of God’s commandments. This passage challenges us to see love not as a feeling but as a choice that guides our actions and relationships. In the Gospel, Luke presents a stark and challenging message from Jesus about the cost of following him. Jesus says that to be his disciple, one must be willing to “hate” even family and oneself, bear the cross, and renounce all possessions. This is not about literal hatred but about prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. Jesus uses the parables of the tower builder and the king going to war to stress the need for discernment and commitment. True discipleship, he teaches, requires a willingness to surrender everything and embrace sacrifice.
These readings are deeply connected. While Romans focuses on the positive expression of love as the heart of the law, Luke’s Gospel emphasizes the radical commitment required to live out that love in discipleship. Together, they remind us that love is not sentimental or superficial but transformative and costly. To love as God loves means putting aside our own desires and comforts for the sake of others and for the sake of the Kingdom. This is the essence of the Christian life: to love without reserve and to follow Christ without hesitation.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine our priorities and our willingness to let go of what holds us back from loving God and others fully. Are we willing to set aside our attachments, our fears, and our selfishness to follow Christ? Are we prepared to bear the cross of sacrifice and inconvenience for the sake of the Gospel? These are not easy questions, but they are essential for growing in holiness. Let us ask for the grace to love as God loves—generously, selflessly, and without condition. Let us also pray for the courage to embrace the challenges of discipleship, trusting that the reward of following Christ far outweighs the cost.