23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C - Radical Choices & “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
Did You Know | Points of interest in this weekend’s Gospel:
The term ‘hate’ in this weekend’s Gospel (Lk. 14:25-33) should not be taken to mean literal hatred; it is more of an attitude towards anything that may hinder the single mindedness needed answer the call to discipleship.
The Greek word ekklesia is used to describe the Church, and it means ‘being called out from’, or ‘apart from’ others. In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus’ words suggest this understanding.
A recurrent theme in the Gospel of Luke is that obsessive attachment to money or material wealth hinders a full and complete relationship with God. It distracts people from what is truly important in their lives.
Reflection:
Being a disciple of Jesus involves radical choices! We must be single minded in our commitment to Christ and ensure that nothing else takes precedence over him. The use of the word ‘hate’ in this passage is difficult to understand. Is Jesus calling his disciples to ‘hate’ those who love us? Surely, we glimpse something of the love of God through human love. The problem may stem from the Semitic languages, which lack some of the subtleties of modern idioms.
In Hebrew, ‘to hate’ is the opposite of ‘to prefer’. In this text, Jesus is saying that we must prefer to seek God rather than earthly love or relationships. It is our relationship with God that is of utmost value. Furthermore, discipleship comes at a cost—and the cost is the cross. We must be prepared to go the whole way and not leave the task half done. Just as Jesus responded totally to the call of the Father, we too must respond totally to the call to follow him.
Here are some things you may wish to reflect on this week:
How might prioritizing Christ change your relationships with others?
Will choosing to follow Jesus cause difficulties in your relationships with family and friends? How will you navigate these difficulties?
How well do you plan ahead for your life in eternity?
Are there ‘crosses’ that you carry?
Do something that ‘costs’ you this week. Identify someone who has a cross to carry and try helping them shoulder that burden, even if in a small way.
In honor of this weekend’s Gospel, we share our latest video "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross". Sung to the classic tune HAMBURG, this moving choral arrangement was written by Isaac Watts in 1707, broke new ground in English hymnody and remains one of the most beloved musical expressions of faith, reflection, and worship. Our hope is that our music helps enhance your weekly reflections and prayers.
Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.
