6 November 2013 - priorities of disciples

6 November 2013 - priorities of disciples

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.

What does it mean to carry our cross?  This tends to be just a pious expression for us but it is replete with meaning.  Carrying the cross means that we can't put anything before following Jesus.  We can't put family first much less possessions.  We must "hate" our families and "renounce" our possessions relative to Jesus. 

Jesus gives testimony to the truth.  Because he does so must embrace the disgrace and pain of the cross.  We give testimony to him.  Even if we are hated or insulted for his sake we must continue to carry the cross.  Indeed if we are hated for him we are blessed indeed (cf. Luk. 6:22).

So what does this have to do with building a tower or going to war? The cross forces us to come to terms with the inadequacy of our resources.  We die to self.  Our old self is crucified with Christ (cf. Gal. 2:20).  The victory in battle is the resurrection.  The completed tower is found only in his kingdom.  Our resources are insufficient.  We can't even lay the foundation on our own.

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.’

This is why "no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (cf. 1 Cor. 3:11).  All else is shifting sand (cf. Mat 7:26-27).

We are called to realize how completely overwhelming this task is if we try to do it under our own power.  We only have ten thousand troops.  The enemy has twenty thousand.  And yet this overwhelming task is also simple.  It is even frustratingly simple when we realize how often we fail.  All the things that are asked of us

are summed up in this saying, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no evil to the neighbor;
hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

But if we build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, if we come to him as his disciples and embrace his cross we find that the burden is easy and the yoke is light (cf. Mat. 11:30).  We find rest for our souls.  We find blessings not only for ourselves but for all who dwell in darkness. 

He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright;