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Counting the Cost

  • Writer: Claire Henning
    Claire Henning
  • Sep 5
  • 2 min read
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Discipleship has a starting point. And like any journey we begin, it is wise to know the direction you are taking before you start.  Today’s readings all share a common theme: the path of discipleship is one of surrender and transformation.  It calls us to seek out divine wisdom and to understand the true cost of choosing to follow Christ.

 

The first reading (Wis 9:13-18b) recognizes the limitations of human wisdom. Even what we can grasp often comes with great difficulty. To truly align ourselves with God’s will, we need Divine wisdom – something that lifts us beyond our own narrow perceptions and transforms us from within.

 

Paul’s appeal to Philemon in the second reading (Ph 9-10.11-17) illustrates a kind of transformation.  Instead of demanding obedience through his apostolic authority, Paul invites a response rooted in love and equality. He challenges the social norms of the day by reminding Philemon that in Christ, even a master and a slave must see each other as brothers.

 

Then in the Gospel (Lk 14:25-33) Jesus offers a vivid reminder of what it can cost to follow hm.  He stresses the need to think ahead and truly understand what we are committing to before we begin. Using strong imagery – carrying one’s own cross, planning a tower, or preparing for battle - he illustrates that discipleship is a whole hearted commitment that reshapes our priorities.

 

In the end, to follow Christ means to let go of what holds us back – whether it’s possessions, old hierarchies, or our own limited views – and to walk in wisdom, humility and love.  Only then can we understand the fullness of what it means to be his disciple.


  1. In what ways have you had to reshape your priorities because of your commitment to following Christ?

 

  1. How do you personally understand the idea of “carrying your own cross” in your daily life?

 

3. What does it mean in your life to “count the cost” of discipleship?

 

 
 
 

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Vicki
Sep 06
Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

As long as we are comfortable in our lives as they are, it's pretty hard, maybe impossible, to make the kind of committment that Jesus is calling us to. Take up our CROSS? Really? The instrument of torture that sent terror into the hearts of the people living under Roman authority? THAT is what Jesus calls us to carry?

If we think we can be careful to have our coffee just the way we like it every morning, and to make our own plans for our own projects every day, and to live our lives according to what makes us more or less comfortable, we will never be on Jesus' path. His path is not comfortable, and it's not eas…


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Bj pike
Sep 06
Replying to

Thank You Vicki

So True

I can’t imagine willingly giving up even my mornings coffee just the way I like it.

I can say yes to God if a deed to relieve someone’s suffering is smack in my path and a miracle if he provides me with the resources.


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