Challenge of Christianity

31st Week in Ordinary Time - Wednesday (7 November 2018)

Philippians 2:12-18

Luke 14:25-33

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple.”

The above words from today's gospel could cause difficulty in some of us. How is that our Lord who asks us to love all asks us here to “hate” our dear ones and ourselves if we have to be his disciples? This strong word “hate” here is a Semitic expression not to be taken literally; it means a letting-go and self-emptying (which we have been discussing the last two days). We can be sure of this because the whole of Jesus’ teaching is based on love not only of blood relatives but also of strangers and even enemies. It is rather a dramatic way of saying that anyone who puts any person, even those closest to them, before total commitment to Christ and his mission is not ready to be a disciple. There can be no compromise here; it is all or nothing. This is one of the radical and uncompromising demands that Jesus makes on his followers.

We also have to say that Jesus is not recommending a literal abandonment of one’s family and relationships. That could be highly irresponsible and a violation of that commandment of universal love. But at the same time, where there is a choice between the clear call of the Gospel and personal attachments, they have to let go of the latter. No one can be a disciple of Jesus who is not ready to let go of everything she has. Following Christ should not be a matter of convenience, but should be absolute and unconditional. That is the great challenge of Christianity!

Following Jesus is a demanding thing; it is being “radical.” Mediocrity is a real possibility when one is not radical enough. We cannot be a Christian for convenience sake, for namesake. Jesus says, “No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple.” In other words, he speaks about the price all of us must pay to be considered one of his followers. Suffering, misunderstanding, loneliness are not mere possibilities, but they are certainties when we follow Christ. Only those who are able to embrace these challenges can be true Christians.

As someone said, God is not an uncle, not a Santa Claus like uncle, God is an earthquake. He shakes us up, and leads us out of our comfort zones to new places. He leads us all, like Abraham, out into a new country. To paraphrase what God said to Abram (later Abraham), “Leave your native country, your relatives, your family, your culture, your tribe, your conveniences and luxuries, your favourite persons and things, your plans and agendas, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing to all” (see Genesis 12:1-2). God’s love is not cruel, but that which brings blessing. He will never lead us into where we will not be cared for or provided for. Our abandonment will lead us to true joy. It is giving up our false self and false securities; it calls us for a great trust and self-surrender. My petty kingdom has to go, only then will God's Kingdom come in all its glory.

God promises us a spacious place within our souls. This is salvation. It is not an achievement, but a gradual discovery. God is already giving us the joy that we are searching for, only that we have a hard time in believing it. The more we let go, the deeper will be our joy.