SIT DOWN AND COUNT THE COST…

Romans 13:8-10

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Luke 14:25-33

25 Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them,
26 “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30 saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’
31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace.33 So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”  

MEDITATION

St PAUL list a number of prohibitions or negative commandments that is ordered to correctly form the conscience of believers such that they avoid the occasion of causing harm to the character and the soul of another person.
Paul counter balance the list of negative commandments with one positive commandment; love of neighbor! This single positive commandment is the bedrock upon which heavenly justice is built. To love another person sincerely and charitable is to not do or say anything that will require an apology for injurious words or actions.

THE GOSPEL READING: Jesus establish the standard of discipleship that rest upon the virtue of love of Him above anyone or anything else! More often than not, we do not “take council” or seek help or guidance from someone who may not hold our view of things. We generally prefer to operate or consult in darkness with individuals who agree with us which imply that we are not interested in a counter argument for fear that our project will be found to be wonting and flawed! To be sure, someone who loves us and holds our interest at heart will not nesseserilly tell us what we want to hear, instead if they are indeed virtuous and sincere, they will convey to us what we aught to know!

We are called to prayerfully sit down and prudently consider our relationship with Christ which is meant to be an honest lifelong project, that is bound to come at a cost which may include; our rejection from family and friends, persecution, pain and suffering. A disciple of Christ is not in the business of seeking popularity at the expense of objective gospel Truths! The burden of proof falls on our commitment to seek truth and peace whilst we remain true to the Magisterial teachings of Christ and the sacramental oaths and promises we have sworn to; be it the single life, marriage, the consecrated or priestly ministry!

LET US PRAY: Psalms 112:1-2,4-5,9
1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
4 Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the LORD is gracious, merciful, and righteous.5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
9 He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.