Gift of Peace – Reflection on Luke 14:25-33
In the 1980s and 1990s, it became normal to play community sports on Sunday mornings. This was tough on many parents who believed the day was sacred, and attending service with our children took precedence. Sacredness did come at a cost because our children felt the pull of peer pressure. Likewise, society is also pulling on those of us who have daily prayer routines. There is no doubt we should be doing essential tasks, and projects or catching up on office work that needs attention. However, we know from experience we would suffer spiritually without prayer time. On the surface, our list of things to do burdens could disappear if we spent less time in prayer. A sense of needing to do “this or that” also applies if we were to apply less of our time to social justice or helping other people. However, despite the cost of discipleship and all that is given up doing so, it is worth it. Our time spent in the fields of the Lord yields the immeasurable gift of peace and heart-warming actions of love.
Jesus Teaches the People by the Sea by James Tissot (full resolution painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Luke 14:25-33 – Scripture*
The Cost of Discipleship
25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 14:25-33 Reflection – Gift of Peace.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 14 Bible passage.
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