Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle C

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Wisdom 9:13-18b
  • Philemon 9-10, 12-17
  • Luke 14:25-33

Dad finished the Gospel reading for this Sunday and slowly closed the Bible.  He looked at his family.  What Dad saw looking back at him was a sea of blank faces.

“Everyone looks so glum!”  Dad said.  “Was there something in this Gospel reading that you didn’t quite understand?”

Vincent was the first to speak up.  “Dad, does it really say I’ve got to turn my back on you and Mom, and Mary Clare, Peter, Hillary, Lucy, and Ben?  Doesn’t that sound kind of extreme?”

The others nodded in agreement.  “So that’s the part that’s bothering them!” Dad thought.  “Well, kids, first and foremost, God is love, and Jesus calls all of us to love one another,” he said.

“That’s what I figured!” Vincent volunteered.

“But in this Gospel, Jesus is making a larger point about the cost of discipleship.  Jesus is telling us that nothing, absolutely nothing, should stand in our way of being His follower.  We must be detached from even the things we love the most.  Material things, and even relationships, should not be more important to us than Jesus.”

“And in this very reading, Jesus mentions one other person we have to figuratively turn our back on,” Mom added.  “And that’s ourselves!”

“That’s right,” Dad agreed.  “We have to deny ourselves, take up our crosses each day, and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.”

“So we still have to take out the garbage, and do all the other things you ask us, right?” Vincent offered.  “Jesus was making a huge point when He talked about brothers and sisters and parents.”

Mom and Dad smiled and nodded.

“If we always remember to love each other, never have any of our possessions become more important than Jesus, and follow His example, Jesus will lead us straight to heaven!” Dad said.

“When you explain it that way,” Vincent said, “this reading isn’t so mysterious after all!”

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27

What does this reading say to you? 

Are there any things you own  that you feel are more important to you than Jesus?

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – CDownload

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