Daily Readings - Wed Nov 08 2017
Romans
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery,Do not murder,Do not steal,Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Luke
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has 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.