Daily Readings - Wed Nov 03 2021
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the essence of Christian living and the radical commitment required to follow Christ. The first reading from Romans reminds us that love is the fulfillment of the law. Paul lists several commandments, but he sums them all up in one: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This love, he says, does no harm to others and is the very essence of living a Christian life. It’s a powerful reminder that our faith is not just about rules and regulations, but about how we treat one another with compassion and care.
The Gospel from Luke presents a stark and challenging message about the cost of discipleship. Jesus tells us that to follow Him, we must be willing to “hate” our family and even our own life. This doesn’t mean literal hatred, but rather a willingness to prioritize our relationship with God above all else. He uses two parables to emphasize the need to count the cost of discipleship: building a tower and going to war. Both require careful planning and a commitment to see things through to the end. Jesus is asking us to consider whether we are willing to renounce all that we possess—our comforts, our attachments, our very lives—in order to follow Him.
These readings are deeply connected. In Romans, we see that love is the heart of the Christian life, while in Luke, we are reminded that this love requires sacrifice and commitment. Together, they call us to live in a way that prioritizes God and neighbor above all else. In our daily lives, this means being willing to let go of our own desires and comforts when they get in the way of loving and serving others. It means being mindful of how our choices impact those around us and striving to live in a way that reflects the transformative power of God’s love. The moral lesson is clear: following Christ is not easy, but it is worth it. Let us pray for the grace to love without reserve and to embrace the challenges of discipleship with courage and faith.