Daily Readings - Wed Nov 06 2024
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
Dear friends in Christ,
Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the nature of our commitment to faith and the transformative power of living as disciples of Christ. In the first reading from Philippians, St. Paul encourages the community to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling," reminding them that while God works within them, they must still act with integrity and without complaint. This passage emphasizes the balance between God’s grace and our responsibility to live out our faith diligently. The Philippians are urged to be "lights in the world," reflecting God’s truth in a society that often opposes it. This call to holiness and witness is both a privilege and a challenge.
In the Gospel, Jesus presents a stark and unsettling message about the cost of discipleship. He declares that to follow him, one must be willing to "hate" family and even life itself. This is not about literal hatred but about prioritizing our relationship with him above all else. Jesus uses parables about building a tower and a king preparing for war to stress the need for discernment and commitment. True discipleship requires sacrifice and a willingness to renounce all that might hinder our devotion to him. These words are not meant to discourage but to clarify the seriousness of following Christ.
Both readings remind us that faith is not a passive endeavor but an active, intentional way of life. Paul’s exhortation to live blamelessly and Jesus’ call to radical discipleship are two sides of the same coin. They challenge us to examine our priorities, to count the cost, and to live in a way that reflects our identity as children of God. In a world often marked by compromise and complacency, these readings invite us to shine as lights, to bear our crosses, and to trust in God’s grace to sustain us. Let us ask ourselves: Are we living as true disciples, or are we holding back? May we embrace the call to holiness and witness, trusting that the Lord will complete the work he has begun in us.