Fresh Dew Media

 23^rd Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Loving Jesus more and our kith and kin less

Readings: Wis 9:13-18b; Philemon 9b-10,12-17; Lk 14:25-33

Dear friends in Christ, today's gospel reading presents us with one of the statements that many find hard to accept as originating from Jesus. In this gospel passage, He said, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

We know very well that Jesus didn’t hate his own parents, relatives, and friends (his apostles); in fact, he loved deeply. We also recognize that Jesus taught us to love everyone, including strangers and enemies, and that one should be willing to sacrifice his life for those he loves. Therefore, the initial response of anyone who hears this challenging demand from Jesus in today's gospel might be to question why Jesus would urge people to hate their family members and themselves as a condition for being His disciple. It is actually very strange. Nevertheless, it is this slight confusion that we aim to clarify in today's homily.

The first step towards understanding what Jesus actually wanted from his disciples when He made that statement would be to briefly examine what he said semantically. The Hebrew language lacks comparatives. For instance, in the Hebrew language, it is not possible to speak of loving something more or less than another. The only option available is to speak of loving or hating. Furthermore, the Hebrew verb for to hate – שִׂנאָה – does not imply dislike, to detest, or to abhor; instead, it implies ‘loving less’. This is evident in the Old Testament, where such expression was used. For example, in Genesis 29:30-33, where it is mentioned that Jacob loved Leah less than Rachel, and in Deuteronomy 21:15-17, which discusses the division of property.

Consequently, when Luke reported that Jesus said anyone who comes to him without hating his father, mother, wife, children, relatives and even his own self is not worthy of him, it did not imply that Jesus was promoting hatred towards family members. Rather, Jesus was indicating that anyone who desires to follow him must love him more than they love their family and themselves. This notion is further supported in the Gospel of Matthew 10:37, where it is explicitly stated that Jesus said, “Whoever loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me.”

By encouraging anyone who aspires to be his genuine disciple to love Him more than he loves himself, his family, and friends, Jesus is telling those who wish to follow Him to prioritize Him above all personal preferences and the desires of their families and friends. It is a reminder that the first commitment of every Christian should be to Jesus and that Christianity is a call to self-renunciation for the sake of God’s kingdom. This is further illustrated in the subsequent statements of Jesus in today’s gospel. He said, “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple,” and “Whoever does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Following Jesus is a vocation that transforms people’s choices and actions, often setting them against the currents of society, which can lead to insults and persecutions. Hence, the choice to follow Jesus requires thoughtful consideration and a profound commitment. That was why Jesus wanted everyone to reflect deeply before deciding to follow Him, so that one will not say “yes” today and “no” tomorrow when confronted with the serious challenges of life. This is the meaning of Jesus’ parables of the man planning to build a tower and the king preparing to wage war against another king in today’s gospel.

How can we demonstrate that our love for Jesus surpasses our love for ourselves, our families, and our friends? How can we exhibit genuine commitment to Jesus? Dear friends, whenever our preferences or desires, as well as those of our families, friends, workplaces, and society, conflict with the teachings of Jesus, we show our greater love for Him by choosing to follow His commands, regardless of the consequences. That’s what Jesus wants from a true disciple.

Why must we prioritize Jesus above all else? In this regard, the first reading provides valuable insight. It extols the wisdom of God, contrasting it with the reasoning and plans of mortals, which are ultimately futile and prone to misguidance, because the human intellect is burdened by the limitations of the perishable body and worldly concerns. This reading further underscores that it is only when God imparts His wisdom and sends His spirit upon the earth that people on earth will be guided correctly and learn to act righteously. Given our finite nature, which limits our understanding and abilities and hinders us from identifying the best course for ourselves and for humanity, it is solely through the guidance of God – who is infinite and knows tomorrow with clarity, and in whose eyes a thousand years are like yesterday – that we find what is truly best for us. God’s wisdom should be favoured over the limited perspective of humanity, which cannot foresee the future with clarity.

The second reading provided a concrete example of prioritizing and adhering to the voice of God over our personal preferences and societal norms. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave and found himself in prison, possibly due to an offense against Philemon. In this reading, St. Paul was urging Philemon not only to forgive and reinstate Onesimus in his service but also to set aside the conventional slave-master relationship that existed between them, embracing Onesimus as a brother instead. This was a call to accept the divine wisdom that makes everyone equal before God instead of the conventional human wisdom that relegates Onesimus to the status of a slave under Philemon. It was a big challenge for Philemon; he accepted it as a true Christian.

Dear friends, being a true disciple of Jesus entails subduing our own desires and those of others around us in order to fulfil His will, trusting that He knows better than we do, and that His guidance will never lead us astray.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima