Daily Readings - Wed Nov 04 2020
Philippians
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.14Do all things without grumbling or questioning,15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Luke
25Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,30saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'31Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?32And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.33So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the nature of our commitment to God and the sacrifices that come with following Christ. The first reading from Philippians reminds us that our salvation is a work of God within us, but it also calls us to cooperate with his grace by living lives of obedience and integrity. Paul urges the Philippians to work out their salvation “with fear and trembling,” not out of servile fear, but out of reverence for the God who is at work in them. This passage emphasizes that our faith is not passive; it requires effort and dedication to live as children of God in a world that often opposes his will.
The Gospel from Luke presents a stark challenge to potential followers of Jesus. He warns that discipleship requires a radical reordering of priorities. To follow him, one must be willing to “hate” family and even life itself. This does not mean literal hatred but rather an unconditional commitment to Christ above all else. Jesus uses the parables of the tower builder and the king going to war to illustrate that discipleship requires careful consideration of the cost. He is not asking for half-hearted followers but those who are willing to renounce all that they possess. This teaching underscores the seriousness of the Christian vocation and the need for us to evaluate our own commitment to following Christ.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to examine our own lives. Are we living as “lights in the world,” shining with the truth of the Gospel? Or are we compromising our faith to fit in with the values of a “depraved and perverse nation”? The readings remind us that discipleship is not a part-time endeavor but a way of life that demands sacrifice and surrender. Let us ask ourselves: Am I willing to put Christ first, even when it is difficult? Am I trusting in God’s providence and grace to help me live as he calls me to live? May we embrace the call to radical discipleship, knowing that true joy and fulfillment come from following Christ, no matter the cost.