Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 Twenty-third Sunday of the Year, C – September 8, 2019.

Readings: Wisdom 9:13-18B; Responsorial Psalm Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17; 

Philemon 9b-10, 12-17; Gospel Lk 14:25-33.

Theme: Detachment: An Indispensable Virtue for the Kingdom!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, we are living in a society where there is an apparent rat race of survival of the fittest and the elimination of the unfit. We are living in a profit-oriented world which places high premium on material possessions. On a daily basis, economists and business moguls are unleashing upon us a society which maximises profit and minimises loss. Little wonder, market forces determine prices of goods and services. We are caught up in the quagmire of a society which “objectifies” and “commodifies” human beings. 

Sadly, today, the commercialisation of relationships is based on utility friendship. This has further worsened the situation. This mentality has also affected discipleship and discipling. In this refection titled, “Detachment: An Indispensable Virtue for the Kingdom,” we are urged to fix our gaze on divine realities by being detached from wealth, human affiliations and the world so as to be attached to Christ. We shall consider a summary of the readings in order to derive the desired lessons. 

Background and Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Wisdom 9:13-18B) emphasis that we cannot comprehend the mind of God and what is in the heavens. It further discloses how the saints used wisdom to look heavenward. It also cautions against earthly concerns stressing that we should seek God’s counsel.

The second reading (Philemon 9-10, 12-17) tells how Saint Paul interceded for Onesimus urging his Master to receive him as a brother and no longer a slave. It points to fraternal correction and reveals how Masters should treat their servants in love.  

The gospel (Luke 14:25-33) narrates how Jesus tells the crowd following him to develop an undivided loyalty to God above family loyalties. It particularly recounts how he called the attention of his followers to the cost of discipleship by giving two parables about the man who intends to build and a king who is preparing for war. In the end, Jesus surmised:  “So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up his possessions.” 

 

3 Kinds of Detachment

1. Detachment from Wealth: The allure of riches has distracted many Christians from following Christ. The story of the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16–30; Mark 10:17–31 & Luke 18:18–30) and Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16:19-31) underscores the need for detachment from material wealth so as to make heaven.

2. Detachment from Human Affiliations: Most Christians have failed to answer the call to discipleship because of their affinity to family and friends. Jesus’ reaction to the man who wanted to say goodbye to his family and the other who wanted to go and bury his father (Lk 9:59-61) demonstrates that detachment from human affiliations is key to discipleship and discipling.  

3. Detachment from the World: The crisis of faith which many Christians experience today may not be unconnected with their lust for the things of this world. It was partly because of this that Adam and Eve sinned against God. The scripture which says, “You cannot serve both God and Mammon” (Lk 16:13) calls us to be more and more detached from the world in order to be connected to Christ.   

Pastoral Lessons

1. Seek God’s Counsel: The first reading (Wisdom 9:13-18B) urges us to follow the path of the saints who thought heavenward even as it admonishes us to seek God’s counsel by not dwelling on earthly concerns.

2. Embrace Divine Realities: The second reading (Philemon 9-10, 12-17) reveals that detachment entails embracing divine realities because if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, it will be easy for us to embrace the cross of forgiving those who have hurt us and also shun the worldly trappings of materialism

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3. Practise Fraternal Correction: In a society where some Masters maltreat and molest their servants by treating them like animals, the second reading points to fraternal correction and reveals how Masters should treat their servants in love. 

4. Resist Materialism: We are challenged to avoid the crazy rat race of survival of the fittest and the elimination of the unfit which makes the world a profit-oriented society that places high premium on material possessions.

5. Shun Objectification and Commodification: We are urged to create a world where economists and business moguls would shun maximising profit through “objectifying ” and “commodifying” human beings on the basis of utility friendship but would build a society of love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

6. Develop an Undivided Loyalty to God: Jesus’ call to “hate” is not a call to denounce one’s biological family or life but rather, a hyperbole which calls us to develop an undivided loyalty to God above family loyalties by being committed to our primary allegiance to Jesus above any human affiliation.

7. Avoid Cheap Grace: Our liturgy demands that we avoid what the German Lutheran Pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace” – that is, a discipleship that is easy by deliberately going through the narrow gate (Matt. 7:13) because cheap things do not last.

8. Count the Cost: Jesus challenges the would-be disciple to be like a business man by counting the cost of discipleship which could imply letting-go of family, self-interest and possessions for the sake of the kingdom because failure in this regard could result in ridicule. 

9. Follow the Royal Road of the Cross: In a tempting world which seeks for miracles as a basis for following Jesus, the gospel reminds us that true discipleship Christians entails following the royal road of the cross, rather than merely being with Jesus because of what we would benefit from him materially.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. The first reading emphasis that we cannot comprehend the mind of God and what is in the heavens.

2. The second reading tells how Saint Paul interceded for Onesimus urging his master to receive him as a brother and no longer a slave.

3. The gospel tells how Jesus tells the crowd following him to develop an undivided loyalty to God above family loyalties.

4. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up his possessions (Lk 14:33). 

5. Jesus demands that we be detached from human affiliations and created things which come between us and him. 

Conclusion  

Today, Jesus demands that we be detached from human affiliations and created things which come between us and him rather than remain glued to mundane interests. The implication is that the Christian religion is not a low-risk endeavour. This means that we should not look up to Jesus the-wonder-worker alone but also to Jesus, the-crucified. Our liturgy calls us to resist the temptation of being possessed by our possessions. This is because, the bible says: “Where a man’s treasure is, there also is his heart” (Matthew 6:21). If you want to truly follow Christ, you must be detached from wealth, human affiliations and the world. For priests, religious and the laity, indeed, detachment is an indispensable virtue for the kingdom. Have a terrific week ahead.