Reflections on Scripture | Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Luke 14:25-33

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.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
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?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.'
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?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple."

Reflection

Possessions are different than things we own. There are ways of seeing ourselves that give us a sense of importance, value. We have to let go of anything that focuses too much on our performance and everything we're asked to do, or asked to do in God with God for God, and so the minute we start thinking that we are supposed to have what we need to do to accomplish the task that the gospel calls us to, we are in trouble.

We don't have enough to build a tower. We don't really have enough to win the battle. And so God is simply saying through Jesus, please, please note, what I'm asking you to do is a cooperative work with you and me living inside of you.

Closing Prayer

Father, free is from the hubris of thinking we can do anything we put our mind to that we are autonomously capable of achieving what you call us to do and be. Give us humility. Give us a longing to recognize all that you want to be in our life. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross