Podcast: Play in new window

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Preparation

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
ruler and judge of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
In the darkness of this age that is passing away
may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy
surround our steps as we journey on.
May we reflect your glory this day
and so be made ready to see your face
in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Luke 14.25-33
The Cost of Discipleship

Large crowds were travelling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.’

Reflection

We live in a world that seems to be filled with hate. Despite the hope expressed in phrases such as ‘A war to end all wars’, there are still so many places in this world that are blighted with the anger, exploitation and oppression which inevitably leads to violence and warfare. The naked aggression of individual leaders can be seen everywhere, including those countries we might instinctively consider to be ‘civilized’! It is that aggression that, so often, lies at the heart of the hatred which gives rise to man’s inhumanity towards man!

In today’s reading we find Jesus speaking of ‘hate’. He is not speaking in general terms, in a way that distances us from its reality. Rather, Jesus is speaking of hate between those whom we might consider to be nearest and dearest to us, those in our own families. Such teaching is difficult and demands that we pause and reflect upon what Jesus is really saying.

In modern English, the word ‘hate’ has become an expression associated with a repulsion that can easily translate itself into violence. That is not what Jesus is saying, however. Jesus is really speaking about love. This may seem a strange thing to say, but it is true. Jesus is speaking about how much we love God. He is urging us to commit ourselves to follow his teaching, the teaching which leads to a closer relationship with God, a relationship that should be stronger even than those we have within our own families. This is a very different perspective on the word ‘hate’.

Jesus is teaching us to set aside the calculations we make on a daily basis in order that we might make the most profit out of every situation and relationship we encounter in our lives. Instead, Jesus is teaching us to place God ahead of everyone and everything else. As we translate the Gospel narrative into modern English we find ourselves limited in many of the words we can use. The original Greek translates literally into ‘hate’, but its meaning is far more subtle than we understand on a day-to-day basis. Let us acknowledge that subtlety and let us pray that we might be strong enough to put God before all else in our lives. Let us pray that instead of weighing up the odds, we might simply trust in our creator God, the heavenly Father who loves us more than we can imagine.

Prayers

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

Let us praise Christ our King, by whose cross we have citizenship in  heaven, saying: all your saints praise you.

Lord, you built your Church on the foundation of the apostles:
all your saints praise you.

You witness to your truth in the lives of your saints:
all your saints praise you.

You made us to be a kingdom and priests serving our God:
all your saints praise you.

You have shared our burdens,
revealing the holiness of our life and work:
all your saints praise you.

You stir us to seek the mysteries of the kingdom:
all your saints praise you.

You lead us to the eternal assembly of the saints:
all your saints praise you.

God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example
with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Christ our King make us faithful and strong to do his will,
that we may reign with him in glory;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.