VIGÉSIMO TERCER DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2025.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas: las lecturas de este domingo nos invitan a reconocer que, aunque como seres humanos no podemos conocer la mente de Dios, sí podemos acceder a su voluntad para con nosotros si contamos con la ayuda del Espíritu Santo, la oración y la meditación en las palabras de Jesús. Hoy, Jesús no solo nos invita a ser sus seguidores, sino a ser sus discípulos, amándolo y poniéndolo por encima de todo en nuestras vidas.

Empecemos con estas preguntas: ¿te resulta fácil conocer la voluntad de Dios?, ¿eres seguidor o discípulo de Jesús, o ambas cosas?, ¿aceptas tu cruz?, ¿sigues a Jesús o es Jesús quien te sigue a ti?, ¿alguna vez haspospuesto ir a misa porque estabas visitando a unos amigos o haciendo otros planes?, ¿alguna vez no has ido a misa porque jugaba tu equipo favorito?, ¿dedicas más tiempo a seguir a famosos que a seguir a Jesús?

En esta sociedad es común que muchas personas sigan a famosos en las redes sociales: jugadores, modelos, actores, líderes sociales, influenciadores, predicadores, cantantes, políticos, entrenadores, etc. A veces, el comportamiento de estas personas no es el mejor, pero sus seguidores confían en ellos porque son exitosos y famosos. Algunos de sus seguidores, además de querer parecerse a ellos, están dispuestos a hacer todo lo que les pidan, sin importar lo arriesgado o ridículo que pueda ser. A cambio de seguirlos, reciben una gratificación personal y la alegría de ser un número más para sus «ídolos». A diferencia de ellos, Jesús nos concede una felicidad perpetua que ellos no pueden darnos: la vida eterna.

¿Has calculado alguna vez cuánto te costará ganar la vida eterna? Déjame ser claro. Jesús dice hoy que seguirlo tiene un precio. Él dice que no quiere solo seguidores, sino discípulos. Para Jesús no se trata de números, sino de calidad. Hagamos una distinción entre un seguidor y un discípulo.

Un seguidor es alguien que simplemente sigue a otros sin comprometerse ni cambiar su vida. Un discípulo es alguien que conoce a Jesucristo, escucha su voz, lo sigue, pone en práctica sus enseñanzas y está dispuesto a cumplir su misión.

Según Jesús, para ser sus discípulos se requieren tres condiciones:

1. Poner a Dios por encima de todo: «Si alguno viene a mí y no aborrece a su padre y a su madre, a su mujer y a sus hijos, a sus hermanos y hermanas, y hasta a su propia vida, no puede ser mi discípulo».

2. Cargar con su propia cruz: dice Jesús «El que no lleva su propia cruz, no puede ser mi discípulo».

3. Seguirlo como discípulo: quien quiera ser discípulo debe seguir a Jesucristo y aceptarlo como salvador.

Muchos católicos creen que es fácil ser discípulo de Jesús, y que el primer paso es simplemente bautizarse y asistir a misa de vez en cuando. Sin embargo, según el Evangelio de hoy, la primera condición para ser uno de sus discípulos es amarlo y ponerlo por encima de todas las cosas. Si Jesús no es nuestro tesoro más preciado, será imposible ser su discípulo y dejarlo todo atrás.

La segunda condición es asumir nuestra cruz. Significa aceptar nuestra vida y nuestros sufrimientos con fe y esperanza, confiando en que Dios tiene un plan para cada uno de nosotros y en que todo lo que sucede en nuestras vidas tiene un propósito según su voluntad. Si no aceptamos nuestras cruces como un camino hacia la salvación, será imposible ser discípulos de Jesús.

La tercera condición es el discipulado. Esta es muy importante, ya que debemos reconocer que Él es el Líder, quien debe ir delante de nosotros porque conoce el camino y sabe cómo guiarnos hacia la salvación. Muchas veces queremos hacer lo contrario: guiar a Jesús, que vaya detrás de nosotros, aunque no conozcamos el camino.

Hermanos y hermanas, hoy es importante tener en cuenta que Dios siempre quiere lo mejor para nosotros, incluso si eso implica renunciar a cosas que creemos muy importantes. Hay que entregarle el control y amarlo por encima de todo. Por último, consideren lo siguiente:

¿Creen que, cuando se presenten ante Jesús al final de sus vidas, aceptará excusas como estas?: «Señor, quería ir a la iglesia con más regularidad, pero mi mujer o mi marido no me lo permitieron».

«Señor, quería ser una mejor persona, pero mis padres y amigos no me dejaron».

«Señor, quería hacer más obras de caridad, pero mis hermanos no me ayudaron».

«Señor, quería seguirte, pero era demasiado difícil».

«Señor, quería dedicarte más tiempo, pero estaba ocupado dirigiendo mi propio negocio o viendo mis partidos favoritos».

Pidamos a nuestro Señor que nos dé el valor para amarlo como Él nos ha amado, para ser sus discípulos y no solo sus seguidores. Amén.

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2025

Dear brothers and sisters: This Sunday's readings invite us to recognize that, although as human beings we cannot know God's mind, we can access His will for us if we count on the help of the Holy Spirit, prayer, and meditation on the words of Jesus. Today, Jesus not only invites us to be His followers, but to be His disciples, loving Him and placing Him above all else in our lives.

Let's begin with these questions: Is it easy for you to know God's will? Are you a follower or disciple of Jesus, or both? Do you accept your cross? Do you follow Jesus, or does Jesus follow you? Have you ever put off going to Mass because you were visiting friends or making other plans? Have you ever missed Mass because your favorite team was playing? Do you spend more time following celebrities than following Jesus?

In this society, it's common for many people to follow celebrities on social media: players, models, actors, social leaders, influencers, preachers, singers, politicians, coaches, etc. Sometimes these people's behavior isn't the best, but their followers trust them because they are successful and famous. Some of their followers, in addition to wanting to be like them, are willing to do anything they ask, no matter how risky or ridiculous it may be. In exchange for following them, they receive personal gratification and the joy of being just another number for their "idols." Unlike them, Jesus grants us a perpetual happiness that they cannot give us: eternal life.

Have you ever calculated how much it will cost you to gain eternal life? Let me be clear. Jesus says today that following him comes at a price. He says he doesn't just want followers, but disciples. For Jesus, it's not about numbers, but about quality. Let's make a distinction between a follower and a disciple.

A follower is someone who simply follows others without making a commitment or changing their life. A disciple is someone who knows Jesus Christ, hears his voice, follows him, puts his teachings into practice, and is willing to fulfill his mission. According to Jesus, to be his disciple requires three conditions:

1. Putting God above all else: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."

2. Carrying his own cross: Jesus says, "Whoever does not carry his own cross cannot be my disciple."

3. Following him as a disciple: Whoever wants to be a disciple must follow Jesus Christ and accept him as their savior.

Many Catholics believe that being a disciple of Jesus is easy, and that the first step is simply to be baptized and attend Mass occasionally. However, according to today's Gospel, the first condition to be one of his disciples is to love him and place him above all else. If Jesus is not our most precious treasure, it will be impossible to be his disciple and leave everything behind.

The second condition is taking up our cross. It means accepting our life and our sufferings with faith and hope, trusting that God has a plan for each of us and that everything that happens in our lives has a purpose according to his will. If we do not accept our crosses as a path to salvation, it will be impossible to be Jesus' disciples.

The third condition is discipleship. This is very important, as we must recognize that He is the Leader, who must go before us because He knows the way and knows how to guide us to salvation. Many times we want to do the opposite: lead Jesus, have him go behind us, even if we don't know the way.

Brothers and sisters, today it is important to keep in mind that God always wants the best for us, even if that means giving up things we hold dear. We must give him control and love him above all else. Finally, consider the following:

Do you think that when you come before Jesus at the end of your lives, He will accept excuses like these: "Lord, I wanted to go to church more regularly, but my wife or husband wouldn't let me."

"Lord, I wanted to be a better person, but my parents and friends wouldn't let me."

"Lord, I wanted to do more charitable works, but my siblings wouldn't help me."

"Lord, I wanted to follow you, but it was too difficult."

"Lord, I wanted to dedicate more time to you, but I was busy running my own business or watching my favorite sports games."

Let us ask our Lord to give us the courage to love Him as He has loved us, to be His disciples and not just His followers. Amen.

Fr. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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The Primacy of God and of Christ

The main theme that emerges from the biblical Readings today, is that of the primacy of God and of Christ. In the Gospel passage from St Luke, Jesus himself frankly states the three conditions necessary for being his disciples: to love him more than anyone else and more than life itself; to carry one's cross and to walk after him; to renounce all one's possessions. Jesus sees a great crowd following him with his disciples and wants to make it quite clear to all that following him is demanding and cannot depend on enthusiasm or opportunism. It must be a carefully considered decision taken after asking oneself, in all conscience: who is Jesus for me? Is he truly "Lord", does he take first place, like the sun around which all the planets rotate? And the First Reading from the Book of Wisdom indirectly suggests to us the reason for this absolute primacy of Jesus Christ: in him we find the answers to the questions of human beings in every epoch who seek the truth about God and about themselves. God is out of our reach and his plans are unknown to us. Yet he has chosen to reveal himself, in creation and especially in the history of salvation, while in Christ he fully manifested himself and his will. Although it remains true that "No one has ever seen God" (Jn 1: 18), we now know his "name" and his "face" and even his will, because Jesus, who is the Wisdom ofGod made man, has revealed them to us. "Thus", writes the sacred author of the First Reading, "men were taught what pleases you, and were saved by wisdom" (Wis 9: 18).

The particular experience of St Paul with Onesimus can give rise to a broad reflection on the incentive to human promotion contributed by Christianity in the process of civilization and also on the method and style of this contribution, that are in conformity with the Gospel images of "seed" and "leaven": within historical reality Christians, acting as individual citizens or in an association, constitute a beneficial and peaceful force for profound change, encouraging the development of the potentials inherent in reality itself. It is this form of presence and action in the world that is proposed by Church's social doctrine, which always focuses on the development of consciences as a condition for effective and lasting transformations. The Eucharist which we are celebrating, the Sacrament of Love, recalls to us the essential: charity, the love of Christ that renews men and women and the world. This is the essential and we see it clearly, we almost perceive it in the words of St Paul in his Letter to Philemon. With joy and affection, I therefore leave you the old and ever new commandment: love one another as Christ has loved us, and with this love may you be the salt and light of the world.

[Synthesized from, Pope Benedict XVI, Homilia, 5 IX 2010]

Rev. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C

23rd Sunday - Cycle C

Wow !  Today’s gospel is disturbing to read or listen to !

…Jesus telling us that if we want to be his disciple, we must hate our parents, our siblings, our children – our spouse ?  That's what he said:  "Anyone who comes to me without hating his father and mother, etc. – cannot be my disciple."

What about Honor – your Father and Mother ? 

What about Love – one another – as I have loved you ?

Talk about a paradox.  Wanting one person to hate another is the opposite of Jesus' ministry and mission of love. 

In fact – his entire ministry could be condensed into one Word:  Love !  Love God...  Love one another…  He even said that we should love – our enemy !

So – what's going on ?  Why did he say this ?  Simply put, Jesus was telling the crowd – telling us – that it's not easy to be his disciple.  Anything – anyone – preventing a person from being his disciple must be abandoned.  To use Jesus’ words in today’s gospel, we must “Calculate the cost.”

Being a disciple of Jesus may cost everything we have – people and possessions.

The last sentence in today's gospel is key:  "Anyone of you who does not renounce all your possessions cannot be my disciple.”  Remembering that renounce does not mean giving away.  It means giving up our attachment to..

My friends, the cost of discipleship is:

• Leaving old thinking and behavior behind.

• Letting go of prejudice, rationalization of cheating or taking advantage of people less fortunate.

• Rejecting what some parents taught or what some siblings believe is OK.

• Rejecting some things which is “acceptable” to society

To be a disciple of Jesus may require a change of mind, heart and behavior.  Not only listen to the words of Jesus – but do as Jesus did.  Psalm 51 says it beautifully:  "A clean heart create for me, O God."

The beginning of today's gospel tells us: "Great crowds were travelling with Jesus."  Travelling with or being an admirer of Jesus does not necessarily mean being a disciple of Jesus.  One can admire Jesus, listen to his words, even repeat his words but continue life-long practices of deceit and discrimination. 

There is a story of someone talking to a great scholar about a young man.  He said, "So and so tells me that this young man was one of your students." The scholar shook his head and said, "No.  He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students."  

My friends, in today's gospel, Jesus told the crowd that he wanted disciples, not onlookers.  Jesus urged them to think about what it takes –  to count the cost of what it takes to be his disciple. 

In the gospel a couple of weeks ago, Jesus was asked if only a few would be saved.  The crux of Jesus' response was:  "Be more concerned about your own salvation, rather than wondering about someone else's.”  

Today he tells us to make up our own mind and use our own free will to decide whether to live as he taught us.

Is being a disciple of Jesus an easy path to follow ?  Certainly not !

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."   Remember that a few weeks ago, Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem and we know what happened there.

But here's a nice reminder from Jesus:  The night before he died, he said to his disciples, "This is how the world will know you are my disciples:  by your love for one another.  And because you are my disciples – I am going to the Father and prepare a place for you."