Catholics On Call - Bible On Call

Bible On Call

Scripture Reflection, September 5: Knowing is not Enough...

Scripture Readings:
Wisdom 9:13-18b
Psalm 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17
Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Luke 14:25-33

Some years ago, when I was in Italy for a two year formation program of the Focolare, I worked with a young woman from Thailand, let’s call her Emily. Emily grew up in a very rural part of her country. She only completed elementary school and started working as a repairperson for motor bicycles. When she met the Focolare in her parish and felt the calling to consecrated life, she spent some time in the Philippines where she could get to know the Movement better and continue her education. There she had to learn English and later, coming to Italy, she also had to learn Italian. It was fascinating to hear her story about growing up in a world that was so different from mine. I couldn’t actually believe that our paths crossed and that we were working together in a small town in Italy. One thing that struck me the most was when she said that going shopping here was giving her a headache. We only had a tiny little store to purchase our groceries – no huge supermarket or anything. But she told me that when she was at home the option was only: chicken or fish. If you wanted chicken you had to go out and kill one. If you wanted fish you had to go to the river in the hope to catch one. No other options.

In our society and culture we have so many options. We have to make so many decisions that it can cause us headache, too. Scott Stanley, a research professor and co director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver found that young people in our culture “love options but hate to choose.” Options are great, but they are challenging. We can live our whole life keeping all the options open and never choose anything. Choices have costs. Every “yes” to one thing means saying “no” to other things.

Jesus gives us only one option: He calls us to be his disciples and to follow him on the way. And he is honest about the costs: “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.” This is a choice that can truly cause a headache, right? Jesus is saying: If you say “yes” to me, you have to say “no” to other things. You have to say “no” to your own selfish behavior; to relationships that separate you from me; to a comfortable and superficial life-style. If you want to follow me you have to make a choice and know the costs. And then you have to act on it for the rest of your life.

You may say: “This is not new, we all know that.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German poet and dramatist (1749-1832) seems to have some experience in this regard, too. He said: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” And: “Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world.” I have a feeling that also Jesus knew it was difficult to act on your decision. That’s why he illustrates it with the two parables about constructing a tower and marching into a battle. Before we make big decisions we have to sit down and calculate the costs. Otherwise people will laugh at us and make us look foolish. If we call ourselves Christians, but don’t act accordingly we won’t be credible and authentic witnesses of his Gospel message. And to follow Jesus means to love till the end like he did.

Jesus’ words are certainly challenging, but he also promises to help us. One promise is that we don’t have to count only on our own strength and skills as we are trying to follow Jesus. The author of the Book of Wisdom knows that “the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. … The earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.” It is God’s wisdom, the “holy spirit from on high” that makes straight our paths and gives us the light to live out our choices.
The other promise is that we can always begin again. Like in the story of the Prodigal Son that we will hear next week, we can always return to our Heavenly Father who loves us as we are and always waits for us with open arms.

As we gather for the Eucharist this Sunday, let us be honest to Jesus and tell him what it is that prevents us from following him with all or hearts. What is it that gets in the way between God and our lives? Let us ask for wisdom and the Holy Spirit to make good choices in our daily lives and never forget that we are first and foremost what we are called to be: beloved sons and daughters of the Father.

Birgit Oberhofer

Image by: www.biblepicturegallery.com

Share your comments, questions, reflections with the CoC community on facebook.

send to friend

Bible on Call