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Gospel Reading for November 6, 2024 – Luke 14: 25-33
LOYALTY
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “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. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
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One cannot be a nominal Christian, otherwise, he/she isn’t really a Christian at all! Jesus was short of telling this in our gospel reading of today. LOYALTY to God is what will make us dyed-in-the-wool Christians. We can never compromise Christian values because these values are the very essence of life. Surely, it will entail carrying crosses that will be difficult, if not very difficult, to carry, but it isn’t because God wishes to burden us with these crosses, but that when we carry them, paradoxical as it may seem, we actually get UNBURDENED by the many problems in the world that is caused by the devil and the evil doings of his followers.
If we wish to make the world a truly better place to live in, we need to be LOYAL to God and LOYAL to the teachings of his Son, Jesus – Christian soldiers always at war with evil!
Let us reflect on this song written by S. Baring-Gould, ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS –
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
see his banner go!
At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise!
Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
We are not divided;
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity.
Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song;
Glory, laud, and honor,
unto Christ the King;
This thro’ countless ages
men and angels sing.
