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Exegesis Texts of the
Readings
September
5, 2010
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time- C
Betty
Jane Lillie, S.C.
Wis
9:13-18b
X
Ps 90:3-6, 12-17
X
Phlm 9-10, 12-17
X
Luke 14:25-33
Now that summer is morphing into fall and being
transformed into the gorgeous colors of the new season, we might be looking
back at the journeys of the summer with fond memories of happy times and
beautiful places. It may be a good time to look at our Gospel reading and
reflect on the messages it gives us.
The passage is taken from a section of Luke’s Gospel that is
called the Journey Narrative (Lk 9:51 - 24:53). As the text begins it says
Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. He realized that the days were
drawing near for him to make his exodus journey back to his Father’s
kingdom. The Evangelist used the form of a journey to gather together
teachings of Jesus from the time of his historical presence with his
disciples. Our reading presents conditions to be considered by those who
would be Jesus’ disciples.
At this point in the narrative Luke uses strong hyperbolic
language to emphasize the total love that a Christian needs to develop for
Jesus if he wishes to be his disciple. Neither Jesus nor Luke would have
wanted members of the community or their families to hate one another.
That’s a use of parabolic exaggeration to call the reader to total love of
the Lord and his ministry.
How do we know that? We can look at the parallel passage in
Matthew that reflects the meaning behind the expression. A person who loves
anyone, even family, more than the Lord would not be worthy of the Master
(Mt 10:37). Besides that, Luke himself speaks of Jesus’ emphasis on the
great commandment of the Law: love of God and love of neighbor (Lk
10:25-28).The Gospel message teaches us to include all in our love. Others
are not eliminated from being loved. Rather a right order is set in that
love.
Luke’s passage goes on to mention other dispositions one needs
for discipleship. All of us are familiar with the notion of bearing our own
crosses in the footsteps of Jesus. It is a hard thought, but one that is
part of the human condition. Part of that same human condition is the
futility of human calculation when we are trying to come to grips with God’s
will for our salvation.
The first reading of the Mass from the Book of Wisdom reminds us
that the reasoning of mortals is worthless and our designs are likely to
fail (Wis 9:14). But the writer of Wisdom also gives us the way out of the
dilemma. God himself gives us wisdom, also called his holy Spirit, so that
our paths on earth can be set aright. It is through the gift of wisdom that
we learn what pleases God and experience his saving will in our journey to
the heavenly kingdom (Wis 9:17-18).
With the Psalmist we can pray that we get a heart of wisdom. We
can ask God to give us his steadfast love so that we can rejoice and be glad
all our days. (Ps 90)
Betty Jane Lillie, S.C.
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