6 November 2024 - Wed 31st Week
Phil 2, 5-11; Luke 14, 25-33
Homily
This week's Gospel texts are all taken from the long section of Luke's Gospel that accompanies Jesus on his ascent to Jerusalem, where he will be put to death. At this point, large crowds follow him on his ascent.
It is to these crowds - and not to a few chosen disciples - that Jesus sets out the demands that must be made of anyone who wishes to follow him. These demands can be reduced to two: the first is the one that Saint Benedict sums up in his Rule with the words: "Prefer nothing to Christ ’ (RB 4,24). If anyone comes to me, says Jesus, and does not prefer me to his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. The second requirement is a willingness to accept all the suffering, including the lack of understanding and the persecution that such a radical option may provoke. Whoever does not carry his cross and walk behind me, ’ he says, ’ cannot be my disciple.
It is to the extent that, individually and collectively, we accept to live according to these demands of the Gospel, following the example of Paul who tells the Philippians that he is ready to pour out his blood as a libation for them, that we will be able to make all the discernments that are required of us every day.
Armand Veilleux