“In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)

The major theme for this 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on our true Christian discipleship of total commitment to choose God and put God first above all else, and to do and fulfill the will of God in our lives. Similar to what we have mentioned on last Sunday’s homily that the virtue of humility leading to a generous sharing of ourselves, of what we have with those less fortunate brothers and sisters in Christ is an important practice of our Christian discipleship, the issue of our total commitment to choose God above all else is also an essential element of exercising and realizing our Christian way of life.

We know that every good thing in life costs us and demands our sacrifice. The higher the value of the good thing is, the more the sacrifice we need to make. If God is the ultimate object or subject of our pursue, then, we need to make lots of personal sacrifices for Him and pay for the cost of our Christian discipleship of total commitment to choose God above all else to reach God and to unite ourselves with Him.

Every year Olympic hopefuls and professional athletes dedicate great personal, economic, emotional, physical, social, etc., cost or sacrifices and whatever it is required to achieve their goal. They practice day in and day out, submitting themselves to rigorous programs of diet and exercise. They forgo their time with families and friends to be with their coaches and teammates for countless practices to achieve their Olympic dream.

They all know that the cost was worth it, and their sacrifice will eventually pay off. Therefore, our Christian discipleship of total commitment to choose God above all else must undergo certain discipline and endure certain sacrifice to produce a lasting union and cooperation with our God.         

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to practice the true Christian discipleship of total commitment to choose God above all else in our Christian faith, to imitate Christ and do the works of mercy, to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

How can we encourage each other to live and exercise our true Christian discipleship to choose God above all else and to love and take good care of each other?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.