23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 14: 25-33) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Sep 7
- 5 min read
FIRST READING - Wis 9:13-18b
"Who can conceive what the Lord intends?"
A reading from the Book of Wisdom
13 For who knows God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? 14 For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and uncertain our plans. 15 [a]For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthly tent weighs down the mind with its many concerns. 16 Scarcely can we guess the things on earth, and only with difficulty grasp what is at hand; but things in heaven, who can search them out? 17 Or who can know your counsel, unless you give Wisdom and send your holy spirit from on high? 18 [b]Thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and people learned what pleases you, and were saved by Wisdom.
SECOND READING - Phlm 9-10, 12-17
"I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, I am sending him back to you, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother."
A reading from the Letter of Paul to Philemon
9 I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man,[a] and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 10 I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve[a] me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. 15 Perhaps this is why he was away from[b] you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man[c] and in the Lord. 17 So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 14:25-33
"Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."
✠From the Gospel according to Luke
25 Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, 26 “If any one comes to me without hating his father[a] and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? 29 Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him 30 and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ 31 Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? 32 But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. 33 In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR C - Gospel (Luke 14: 25-33)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
The Word of God today tells everyone that: no one can know the thoughts and ways of God; only the Spirit of God fully understands all His thoughts and ways.
Human beings are merely lowly and small creatures before God, so with natural intellect alone, they cannot possibly comprehend the sublime mysteries of God. Only those to whom God grants His Spirit and His light can understand, in part, the mystery of His love. Therefore, God wants human beings to obey and live according to His holy will in an absolute manner.
God always desires what is good for human beings, because He is a merciful and compassionate Father who never abandons His children. Therefore, whatever He teaches, let it be followed; do not resist it, do not rely on human wisdom to judge the holy will of God, because the wisdom of man is foolishness in the sight of God. God only wants human beings to live in simplicity and humility, and always know how to rely on Him, so as not to fall into the traps of the world and of Satan.
The Word of God today calls everyone to make a decisive choice between God or the world. Whoever follows God must renounce themselves, renounce glory and all things belonging to the world, renounce the ego, selfishness, renounce worldly affections, and become a servant who serves others. As for those who choose to follow the world, their souls submit to the commands of Satan, living in sinful passions, desires for power, honor, money, and the glory of the world, and not obeying God.
On the journey toward the Father’s House in Heaven, many people travel together, but not everyone perseveres in choosing to walk the path of the cross that God has given to each person.
Indeed, God has revealed that following God is not walking on a broad, spacious road but on a narrow path, a path of suffering together with God and carrying the cross with Him up to Calvary. But those who persevere, remain steadfast, and faithful to the end of the road will receive the reward of glory, eternal happiness that will never perish.
Today, God calls humanity to listen to and practice His Word. He teaches humanity very specifically: when a person wants to build a house, they must sit down and carefully calculate; likewise, the Kingdom of Heaven today requires that those who want to follow God, who want to enter His Kingdom, must prepare in advance the means, which are:
One must renounce all material things, all worldly glory and honor, completely obey the holy will of God, and faithfully carry the cross following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Go throughout the world to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, calling everyone to repent, return, and be reconciled with God.
God calls His apostles to set out and go forth, to obey the holy will of God and follow the teachings He has given in order to complete their own way of the cross together with Jesus Christ and attain the glorious Kingdom of Heaven in the future.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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