Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(September7, 2025)
Wisdom 9:13-18b| Psalm 90 | Philemon 9 – 10, 12 -17 | Luke 14: 25 - 33
Following Christ with a Whole Heart: The Cost of Discipleship
Dear Friends,
the Gospel today is one of the most challenging in all of Scripture. Jesus says: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).
At first, these words shock us. These are not soft words. They are demanding. How could Jesus, who preached love, ask us to “hate”? But He is not commanding hatred in the emotional sense. These are not soft words. They are demanding.
But Jesus is not pushing us away—He is inviting us deeper. He is reminding us that discipleship is not cheap. It is not about convenience. It is about total commitment to Him who gave His life for us. Rather, He is calling us to a radical choice: to put Him first, above every relationship, every comfort, every possession, even our own life.
Discipleship is costly. It demands everything. Yet in giving all to Christ, we gain everything.
Let us reflect on three lessons the readings give us for living true discipleship.
1. True Wisdom Comes from God
The first reading from Wisdom reminds us: “Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends?” (Wisdom 9:13). Human wisdom is limited. Left to ourselves, we get lost in selfish desires, fears, and worldly attachments. Human wisdom is fragile. We worry about money, career, reputation, and success—yet all these things pass away.
But God gives us His Spirit to guide us. To follow Christ faithfully, we must allow God to reorder our priorities and show us what truly matters. God’s wisdom is different. It shows us what truly matters: eternal life, the salvation of our souls, and the love of God. Without this divine wisdom, we risk building our lives on sand.
Think of a man who builds his whole life around wealth. He may appear successful, but if wealth collapses, his heart collapses with it. Contrast that with a man who builds on God. Even when storms come, he remains firm.
St. Paul says: “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Discipleship requires us to trust God’s wisdom more than our own reasoning. Discipleship means learning to see with God’s eyes, not the world’s eyes. And only through prayer, Scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we receive this wisdom.
2. Discipleship Demands Priority
In the Gospel, Jesus uses strong language: we must prefer Him even over family and our own life. Why? Because love for Christ must be the foundation of all other loves. He is not commanding hatred. He is demanding priority. Christ must be first, before family, before possessions, even before self. Only then can everything else fall into its rightful place.
When Christ is not first, we risk turning good things—family, work, success—into idols. But when He is first, He purifies our love for others. As St. Augustine put it: “He who loves father, mother, son, or daughter more than Christ, loves them less than he ought.”
To follow Jesus is to carry the cross—not once in a lifetime, but daily. It might mean forgiving when we want revenge, staying faithful in marriage when it is difficult, speaking the truth when it is unpopular, or persevering in prayer when it feels dry.
The question is simple: Is Christ at the center of my life, or just at the edges?
Jesus also says: “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). The cross is not optional—it is the badge of true discipleship. To follow Christ is to choose sacrifice over comfort, faithfulness over convenience.
3. Discipleship Requires Detachment
Finally, Jesus says: “Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). He does not condemn possessions themselves, but our slavery to them. If our hearts cling to wealth, status, or comfort, we cannot be free for Christ.
We do not own our possessions—they often own us. Our careers, houses, gadgets, bank accounts—these can chain our hearts and keep us from God. The rich young man went away sad because he had many possessions (Mark 10:22). His wealth became his prison. Think of St. Francis of Assisi, who left everything to embrace Christ in poverty. Or St. Teresa of Calcutta, who gave her life to the poorest of the poor. Their joy came not from what they owned, but from the One who owned their hearts.
Jesus is not saying all of us must sell everything. But He is saying nothing should control us more than our love for Him. The real question is: Can I let go if He asks me to?
St. Ignatius of Loyola taught a prayer of detachment: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will … give me only Your love and Your grace; that is enough for me.” That is the heart of discipleship—finding freedom in God alone.
Jesus is not asking us to live miserably. He is asking us to live freely—free enough to choose Him above all else.
Therefore, today’s Gospel is not meant to discourage us, but to awaken us. Christ is not looking for half-hearted followers. He calls for total commitment:
- To seek His wisdom above our own,
- To put Him before every relationship,
- To let go of possessions that hold us back.
Yes, discipleship costs much. But it costs far more to live without Christ.
AGAIN, the paradox of the Gospel is this: in giving all to Christ, we gain all.
- When we seek God’s wisdom, we learn what truly matters.
- When we give Christ priority, we discover true love and meaning.
- When we live with detachment, we find freedom and joy.
As Jesus Himself promised: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
Let us then ask for the grace at this Eucharist to say with St. Paul: “I count everything as loss compared with the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8).
Amen.
Have a splendid day, and week ahead!
