(Reflection for 23rd Sunday in Ordinary
Time Year C. Wisdom 9:13-18, Philemon 9-10, 12-17,
Lk 14: 25-33)
What man can learn the
counsel of God? This is the opening question of today’s first reading. The body weighs
down the soul, so it’s difficult to pierce through mysteries or get wisdom by
our own power. However, wisdom trickles down from on high. It is the action of
the Holy Spirit. “And thus the paths of those on earth were set right...”
Therefore, the wise follow the dictates of the Holy Spirit as the wise men
followed the star! Disposition for human knowledge comes with the same
orientation with which we incline our mind and heart to the contemplation of
spiritual things. The human mind must be opened to the Holy Spirit so that it
can transform human knowledge to wisdom—the Wisdom of God that has taken flesh
in Jesus Christ.
In the Second reading, Paul displays such wisdom that is not just flesh and blood. He intercedes for Onesimus
to his master, Philemon. Paul sacrifices his own need for the servant boy by
sending him back to his master. He asks Philemon to make the following
sacrifices: forgive the young man and take him back; renounce his mastership over Onesimus and take him
back as a brother. “So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you
would receive me.” Philemon would have to make a very tough decision, informed
by his faith in Christ Jesus. To be a disciple of Jesus is a radical choice!
Hence Jesus turned and addressed the multitude that accompanied him. He
is not interested in “crowd following” but He came to make disciples. Jesus
places the radical choice of discipleship above the natural and strong
attachment to father, mother, brother, sister, wife, children, even to one’s
own life! This sounds surprising, but no more.
This is so when we realize that Jesus himself has gone ahead of us. He
did not cling to His equality with God, but emptied himself for us (Cf. Phil
2:6-8). He gave his own life to win us as his disciples, his close friends.
Therefore, our response must be paralleled. We too must value Him above all
else. But this depends on the extend we allow ourselves to be touched by His
love. In other words, we have been bought by His laying down His life in exchange
for us out of His love. “You are not your own property, then; you have been
bought at a price” (1Cor 6:20). “You
have been bought at a price; do not be slaves now to any human being” (1Cor
7:22-23). Therefore, the detachment from family, self and property for the sake
of discipleship come in the form of an exchange.
The love of Jesus fills and satisfies our deepest yearnings. He touches
us from within, and is even deeper in touch with our real self than we are to
ourselves. If God is thus close, He knows us more than we know ourselves. He
knows our needs and gives us good things. The Spirit of God pierces the hidden
secrets of our lives. That means, God is more to us whatever father, mother,
brother, sister, wife, children, property, or we are to ourselves. And we must
recognize His love as surpassing. If not, we cannot be His disciple.
Jesus watches over us and provides for us a father, shows us mercy like
a mother, journeys with us like brother, sister, wife, and we possess Him like
a treasure! The transaction is done. Whenever we fill the need for any human
attachment or love, we offer it to Jesus first and trust that only Him can
satisfy that need. In turn we receive our human ties and possessions as gifts
from God. “And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother,
children or land for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times as much,
and also inherit eternal life” (Mt 19:29). This is the radical choice of
discipleship—the ultimate exchange! What is received is greater than what is
offered. We sow sparingly and reap abundance of harvest in Christ Jesus. This
too is the wisdom of discipleship, which cannot be gotten by flesh and blood.
“Who, then, is that wise and faithful servant...?” (Mt 24:45). He takes
counsel, examines the cost and finds out if he is capable. “Otherwise, when he
laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to
mock him” (Lk 14:29). The uncompleted building becomes a landmark of shame and
disgrace, and a solid evidence of lack of wisdom. Such foolishness can lead to
death as in the case of the defeated king (Lk 14:31-32). Today, Jesus reveals
to us the wisdom of discipleship.
So, like a man undertaking a building project and like a king matching
out in battle, we follow Jesus as His disciples. The edifice of discipleship is
built by carrying our crosses daily and detaching ourselves from all earthly
ties, and attaching ourselves totally to Jesus. This requires an enormous
grace. But the grace is always available; “My grace is enough for you”. Like
Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, we enter into deep prayer to take stock of
our strength, and to receive help when in need. Finally, we get a new answer to
our opening question: What man can learn
the counsel of God? It is the one who has offered himself as a disciple of
Jesus.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
St Mark’s Catholic Church,
Ohovbe, Benin City, Nigeria.
September 4, 2016.
