Count The Cost of Discipleship.
"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.” (Luke 14: 25 - 33).
Wednesday 8th November 2023 in the 31st Week of Ordinary Time.
When you embark on a new project: building a home, a new career, moving to a new city, volunteering for a new ministry, etc. Rule #1 is sit down and count the cost. This will save you embarrassment and mockery from friends, family and neighbors. "This fellow started something he is unable to complete. He is foolish."
Jesus is speaking to the crowd here. Count the cost of Discipleship before you decide to follow Me.
To make good decisions, you need wisdom. Wisdom is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Solomon asked for wisdom rather than wealth, health and power. God answered him: "Here and now, I give you what you ask for." God added: And for what you did not ask for, I grant them to you in abundance! (Cf 1 Kings 3: 1 - 15).
The greatest wisdom is to know the shortcut to peace and prosperity in life. Jesus reveals this in the Sermon on the Mount:
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the rest will be given you." (Matthew 6: 33).
If you are unwilling to renounce all your possessions and seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, you will not enjoy being a disciple of Jesus Christ but you will be like the man who started a building he can never complete.
November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.
“If only you knew with what great longing these holy souls yearn for relief from their suffering. Ingratitude has never entered Heaven.” – (St. Margaret Mary).
For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html
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