Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 129

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

We can imagine the reaction of the "great crowds" when Jesus turned and made that startling announcement. "Hate your father and mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters" is a tall order and it's made without hesitation or qualification.

Saint Luke does not tell us their immediate reaction, and the gospel goes on to tell us of several more teachings. In some ways the dramatic impact is lost.

But we can imagine their reaction had Jesus immediately turned again and resumed his journey to Jerusalem. "Is he for real?"

We know, of course, what the disciples had been told and the crowds could not suspect. That Jesus was marching to Jerusalem and Calvary. This was a one-way trip.

Some of these crowds were looking for entertaining signs and wonders; many were looking for healing; a few may have wanted an advantageous relationship with a reputed messiah. Not many were ready to surrender everything to be with this remarkable man. That seems to be asking a lot for a little advantage, a high price for a small prize.

The parables that follow explain what Jesus means without making it any easier. If you plan to build a tower you should know what it's going to cost before you start. If you're threatened by a dangerous enemy and plan to fight him. you think carefully about logistics, strategies, and tactics. When that fails you negotiate!

Clearly, Jesus has thought about his mission and its cost. He knows where this is going. His unexpected announcement proves he wants to mislead no one. "If you want to follow me, this is what it will cost you! Are you prepared to pay? If not, go home. I'm done with you."

Our first reading today, from the Book of Wisdom, throws additional light on this gospel:

Who can know God’s counsel,

or who can conceive what the LORD intends?

For the deliberations of mortals are timid,

and unsure are our plans.

Knowing as we do that Jesus is God, we understand this gospel concerns God's counsel and the conceptions the Lord intends. God's wisdom makes our mortal deliberations seem timid and unsure.

The gospels tell us people often turned away from the Lord after hearing his teaching. John 6 describes one critical moment when many disciples, hearing his teaching on the Eucharist, turned back. "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" they complained. They were unwilling to pay the price; they did not think he was worth it. 

Today's reading from the Book of Wisdom also plots our next steps:

... who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom

and sent your holy spirit from on high?

And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

God's wisdom and the "holy spirit from on high" come to us as lights in darkness, like the dawn in a dark forest where no path appeared until the light shone on it. Jesus' teaching is perfectly reasonable. It absolutely makes sense! If others cannot see it, they're blind. 

Those who sign contracts know what they're expected to pay, but those who join covenants know they will have to pay more than they're prepared to pay. Husbands and wives, children and parents, pastors and congregations routinely discover the costs are astonishing. Seventy times seven we must forgive! Abraham must sacrifice his son. Moses must stare down the Pharaoh and govern an ungovernable people.

If you're not prepared to give everything, get out now.