Discernment for Discipleship

Reflection for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Wisdom 9:13-18; Philemon 9-10,12-17; Lk 14:25-33)
1.Discernment
“Who can discern what the Lord wants?” The first reading exposes the limitations in human reasoning. The proper use of our imaginative power or intentionality  is the true test of human intelligence. Still the most intelligent minds struggle to discern and grasp natural things. “We can hardly guess at what is on earth.” Why is it so? The Book of Wisdom says it is because “the perishable body weighs down the soul, and this earthly tent burdens the thoughtful mind.” Thus if the desires of the body overshadows the individual,  he cannot make proper and lasting discernment. A wise counsel must discern the will God. Such is given by the Spirit from on High. This is how we learn God's will, and make the right choices on earth.

2.0.  Paul vs Philemon
Philemon, a devout Christian, had a servant, Onesimus who squandered his master's property. In order to punish him and recover his wealth, this young man was imprisoned.  This is a typical example of human calculation, which tends to project itself for our well-being but is often short-sighted.

While in prison, Onesimus met St Paul, who loved him and converted him to Christ Jesus. Paul secured the young man's release and sent him back to Philemon. He urges this man to receive this servant back, “no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother...so if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.” According to the wisdom of Paul, Philemon should strip himself of the status of “master” and assume that of a “brother” over Onesimus. This is an uncommon wisdom.

3.0. The Wisdom of the Cross
It takes great discernment to unravel the wisdom that leads to discipleship. Jesus is the Incarnate Wisdom. To follow Jesus as His disciple is to unlock such wisdom that cannot fail in every situation. The standard of discernment for discipleship is the Cross of Jesus Christ. “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

At the moment of silent meditation on the cost of discipleship, one sees through the Cross of Jesus what it would take thereof. The feedback of such discernment would be: “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Then we begin to take the proper steps accordingly to answer the call to follow Jesus. If not, we would be like the man that left behind an uncompleted building,  or the King that was defeated at war for his lack of foresight.

It is as if we climb the wood of the Cross to peep into the future...From that Height we see the will of God for us and abundant harvest for our labours. The projection of human mind from below cannot perceive the eternal horizon the wisdom of the Cross opens up for us. In silence we nail our daily choices to the Cross, and empty them of all selfishness.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday September 8th, 2019.