Past Sunday Reflections September 9, 2007
Ghanaian Catholic Community
At Christ The King Church
Sunday Mass at 5PM
141 Marcy Place | Bronx, NY 10452 |Tel: 718 538 5546
                   
                            SUNDAY REFLECTIONS

Dear Brother and sisters,

Good evening! Last week we missed our reflection. Sorry we couldn't get it printed in time for the Mass.
Hopefully very soon every Thursday/Friday we shall have some points from the sunday readings for your
reflection on the website. In order to make it interesting we encourage people to contribute short reflections
as the spirit moves them or ask questions on the readings or the Bible in general and all will be welcomed to
answer. But for now let me see what I can make of the readings for this week.

Honestly, you miss something when you do not have time to enjoy the biblical stories. Do you know that
the Bible is the greatest story book in the world? The stories are very dramatic, poetic and very engaging as
you immerse yourself in them. You never want to put your Bible down. And today's Gospel; Luke
14:25-33, is one of those dramatic stories.

Here is Jesus walking ahead of a crowd through a village (your village?). Everyone is excited. He is a very
important man. They have heard about him, the wonders he has been working around the villages of Judea,
so they runned out to the street, men, women and children to catch a glimpse of this powerful prophet. This
reminds me when I was young back at home in my village, whenever we heard that some important
personality was coming into town, the news was like wild fire and excitement build into the life of the
village. The rumours will circulate and gossip will continue long after he/she has come and gone.

Can you imagine what the people in these villages and towns that Jesus visited felt like when they heard
Jesus was passing their way. The story of Zaccheaus (Lk. 19: 1-10) is a classical example for us. Take your
Bible and re-read that story.

So here is Jesus walking along with the crowds running after him. And then all of a sudden he turns around
and said to them; "If anyone come to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brother
and sister, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come
after me cannot be my disciple..."

Then he uses the analogies of a builder building a tower or a king preparing to go to war, what they do or
need to do in order to accomplish what they've set to do or else they will fail and their neighbours will laugh
at them.

What do you think the reaction of the crowd following Jesus would have been? Is that what they wanted to
hear from him? Is that what you want to hear from him?

I bet they came out to see him work some wonders, miracles and signs or even condemn their enemies or
free them from their poverty. Rather he talks about hating father, mother, wife, children, brother and sister. I
guess it was one of these radical talks that he (Jesus) gave to the people of his village that they sent for his
family to come and take him away because they said he is "mad". And on many occasions they sought to
stone him.

I am sure we would throw Jesus out of our church if he was to come to our church and preaches like that.
We would stone him or banish from our congregation for ever.

Now how do you understand this story? What was Jesus trying to say to his followers? Certainly Jesus
would not advocate hatred for one's enemies let alone one's closest relatives. Jesus had a message for those
who wish to follow him. First of all the cost of discipleship is not cheap(easy). It is a cross. It involves
physical pain, burden and struggle. It is not in running after Jesus along the streets in fanfair as he passes by
(crusades and convention?). He is not just the prophet, miracle worker, the freedom fighter we seek. To
follow means to place him ahead of all our human relationships and our possessions and business interest.
For those who chose to follow him he demands first place in their lives. He cannot be second place.

What is first place in your life?

Do your friends and neighbours laugh at you as a christian because of some of the things you do?

May God continue to bless us. Amen!