September 4,
2016
I’m sure you’ve heard the
expression, “you get what you pay for”, in regards to products like shoes,
labor, clothing, furniture, etc. I know that many times I have convinced myself
to buy the cheaper, generic, or imitation version of the real thing just
because the price was greatly discounted. My experience has been that if a
blouse costs $3.00, chances are it will fall apart within one wear, hopefully
after you have already taken it off, but there are no guarantees, I mean it
cost the same as a cup of coffee for crying out loud!! Getting “a steal” on
products might be something that floats your boat, and everyone loves a good
sale, however, there are certain things that I feel should not necessarily be
discounted, like FOOD!!!! for example. My friend loves loves loves shopping at
a place called the “Grocery Outlet” and I have to tell you that this makes me
very uncomfortable. I just feel like groceries, out of all the products out
there, should be up to date and 100% NOT material for an outlet of any kind.
Can you feel me on this one? Not to mention that I have been at her house, more
than once, when she is bragging about some food item purchased at said “Grocery
Outlet” for a ridiculously good discount, only to find the presence of bugs
inside and/or an expiration date of several years! Some things should NOT be
discounted.
Today’s gospel says that our
eternal lives won’t ever go on sale, show up in an outlet store, nor will there
be a generic/imitation substitute for us to purchase. When we read today’s
gospel, please replace the word “hate” with the word “detach” and it might make
it a little easier to get into. Love, in the ancient world, meant to be
attached to, and hate meant to be detached from. While we are called to love
our families and our neighbors as ourselves, we are never to do that apart from
loving God first and foremost, whole-heartedly. Jesus’ point today is that
sometimes in living a Christian live, we may be required to detach from the
things that perhaps get in the way of us being whole-heartedly focused on God’s
will and plan for us.
A familiar example of this is
the testing of Abraham. God had no plans of allowing Abraham to actually kill
Isaac, but rather he was testing Abraham’s heart to see if he was really “all
in” or not. God greatly blessed Abraham for his willingness to pay full price
for the promise of eternity and his trust in that promise made the promise so.
The same is true for us. God wants our whole hearts, undivided, and in that
undivided-ness, our trust without borders, will fix our eyes on the prize, and
that prize will be so.
So let’s detach from people and
stuff today so as to go “all in” for what truly matters. Let’s not settle for
less than when it comes to our souls. Let’s not expect a sale on the cost of
being a disciple. Let’s not wait for eternity to show up in some outlet store.
Let’s follow our newest Saint’s lead and love until it hurts, because you get
what you pay for and I only want to pay full price so that I am guaranteed to
always be full.
Reading 1 WIS 9:13-18B
Who can know God’s counsel,
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid,
and unsure are our plans.
For the corruptible body burdens the soul
and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.
And scarce do we guess the things on earth,
and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;
but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?
Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.
Responsorial Psalm PS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17
R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
and teach me your laws.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Reading 2 PHMN 9-10, 12-17
I, Paul, an old man,and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,
urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment;
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave
but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
Alleluia PS 119:135
R. Alleluia, alleluia.Let your face shine upon your servant;
and teach me your laws.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 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,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
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,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
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