23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, YearI)
Community Word:True disciples possess the heart and character of Christ.
Theme:We possess the heart and character of Christ when we bear our cross, like Mary.
Promise:“…the gracious care of the Lord (be) is ours…”(Ps 90:17)
Reflection:
Following Jesus is not an easy task. One has to have a deep love and personal relationship with Him to even consider being His disciple.
The central message of this Sunday’s Readings is the cost of discipleship.
Our 1st Reading from the Book of Wisdom underscores the difference between the true wisdom of God and human wisdom, which is fallible and prone to error, because despite the spiritual nature of the soul, the human body is corruptible, fainthearted, and weak.
In his book, Footprints on the Mountain, Roland Faley describes true wisdom as that which “enables the person to be guided by the interests of the soul rather than those of the body.” Because it comes from God, God’s word in the bible reveals to us the truth about who Jesus is, instructing us how to follow Him and live our lives according to His image and likeness, that we may acquire His heart and character.
To be a true Christian disciple is to acquire Christ’s heart and character. This is not an easy task. It requires dedication and total commitment to allow Jesus to take precedence and priority over all other considerations and decisions, regardless of personal cost. Yes, it demands dying to self, to one’s pride, to personal interests, goals and possessions, a detachment from earthly things, and a readiness to surrender oneself when the call of the hour is a choice between human priorities and God’s will.
God loves each one of us dearly, and he is not telling us to dishonor our parents. But He is telling us that our allegiance is first and foremost to Him, and all other human concerns, including our responsibility to our families, are subordinate or secondary considerations. He is not even asking us to make a drastic change, but to carefully weigh our options and grow in our love for Him as we entrust our choices in life to Him as we follow Him in faith.
The Psalm reminds us of the temporary nature of our days on earth, that we are mere transients in this world, and that time is of the essence in living out our Christian faith and giving witness to the love of Christ in the way we relate to others especially the poor and the needy.
To live a life with the heart and character of Christ and to follow him as His disciple may indeed be difficult to achieve. But the Lord gives us the grace and virtue to be one, and He gives this promise to anyone who chooses to be His follower: “…the gracious care of the Lord (be) is ours…”(Ps 90:17).
Prayer:
Abba Father, cause Your Holy Spirit to teach us to count our days aright, so that we may gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding on how to carry our crosses and be Your true disciples. Fill us with Your love so that we may daily sing of Your joy and glory. Likewise, we pray that you prosper the work of our hands. This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
1. What hinders me from possessing the heart and character of Jesus Christ, thus become His true and faithful disciple?
2.What do I need to do so that I may possess the heart and character of Christ, and become His true and faithful disciple?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
September 8, 2019 (Sun)- Wis 9:13-18/Ps 90:3-6, 12-14, 17/Phil 9-10, 12-17/Lk 14:25-33
September 9, 2019 (Mon) – Col 2:6-158/Ps 145:1-2,8-9, 10-11/Lk 6:12-19
September 10, 2019 (Tue) – Col 2:6-15/Ps 145:1-2,8-11/Lk 6:12-19
September 11, 2019 (Wed) – Col 3:1-11/Ps 145:2-3,10-13/Lk 6:20-26
September 12, 2019 (Thu) – Col 3:12-17/Ps 150:1-6/Lk 6:27-38
September 13, 2019 (Fri) – 1Tm 1:1-2,12-14/Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7, 8, 11/Lk 6:39-42
September 14, 2019 (Sat) – Nm 21:4-9/Ps 78:1-2,34-38/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
