Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

“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.”

We are constantly tempted to become attached to people and possessions, to rush into things without counting the cost, or to force an issue out of pride. We need to learn how to renounce our attachments, passions, and prideful hearts. These can lead us away from God’s Will by blinding us to what God is calling us to do. We cannot be the disciples of God and still be followers of the world. We live in the world, but shouldn’t be so invested in it that we cannot put aside our relationships, possessions, and successes to follow God’s to wherever He is calling us. It is His Divine Plan, which should take precedence over our worldly ones, not the other way around. So let us be willing to let go of worldly things and let God lead us to heavenly ones.

Are we overly attached to a particular person or possession? Have we taken stock of our spiritual lives and made sure we have all that we need to build up Christ within us? Are we willing to set aside our passions and pride to do the right thing?

O Lord, help us to renounce everything that stands in the way of becoming good and faithful disciples to you.

Amen.