Saturday, September 10, 2016

THE WISDOM OF DISCIPLESHIP



(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.


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