23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Discipleship Lk. 14:25-33

St. Teresa of Avila was riding in her carriage one day,

When it hit a hole in the road and turned over,

And she fell out of the carriage into a mud puddle. 

And she looked up to Heaven and said;

“If this is how you treat your friends,

No wonder you have so few!”

Being a disciple of Jesus is not for the faint of heart. 

St. Francis Had to walk away from his father and his business,

To follow Jesus. 

St. Peter had to carry his cross,

To the Vatican hill in Rome

And be crucified upside down;

Or Like the man in the parable,

Many people start out following Jesus,

And lay a foundation of prayer and penance and fasting,

But the foundation is as far as they get and never complete their spiritual house. 

Or the king who goes to war without enough troops;

Many people fail to realize the spiritual battles they will face in the spiritual life and are unprepared. 

Are we disciples of Jesus?

Or do we follow Him from a distance. 

Not wanting to get too close;

Or pay the price;

Because there is a Cost to discipleship. 

For when the Lord calls us;

He bids us to come and die with Him;