COUNT FIRST THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP BEFORE YOU COMMIT.

COUNT FIRST THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP BEFORE YOU COMMIT. 

"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 November 5th in the 31st Week in Ordinary Time. 

Jesus weighed the cost of Discipleship carefully in the Garden of Gethsemane in an intense struggle of prayer with His Father the night before He died. 

As God, He knew what he was going to face.

Our salvation and eternal life meant so much to Him. He did not consider the sufferings and the shame. He said Yes to His Father. "I will do it!" 

 Wednesday 5th November in the 31st Week in 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 His disciples in this Gospel. 

Count the cost of Discipleship before you decide to follow Me. 

To make good decisions, we 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 gives this wisdom 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, not only will you not enjoy the fullness of privileges in being a disciple of Jesus Christ but you will be like the man who started a building he may never complete. 

November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY. 

St. John Vianney: - 

"I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works. I seem to hear them crying from the depths of those fires which devour them: ‘Tell our loved ones…how great the evils are which they are making us suffer. We throw ourselves at their feet to implore the help of their prayers."

For Prayers and how to help the Souls in PURGATORY, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html