Daily Readings - Wed Nov 08 2017
First Reading - Romans 13.8-10
Romans
8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Gospel - Luke 14.25-33
Luke
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot 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.