TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A 23

22nd SUNDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER 2023, JER 20. 7-9; ROM 12. 1-2; MATTHEW 16. 21-27   Punch line: No greater treasure than Wisdom! Guideline: Divine wisdom is better and preferable than mere human intelligence. Discernment is more important than mere knowledge   1.      Our whole life is a constant process of choices, discerning among many choices and opting for the right choice. The quality of this discernment for the right choice determines the quality of life and action. Today, despite all the intelligence and competence and all the affluence and abundance, why do people continue to make wrong choices in life? 2.      The reason for this is the lack of wisdom. Many lack the wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, true and false, the praiseworthy and the blameworthy, the shallow pleasures and profound joys, the passing gratifications and the lasting contentment. 3.      In the light of today's readings, this wisdom is to discern between worldly gain and the loss of one's own soul, to choose to be conformed to God and not to the world. That is why we are faced with the straight question from Jesus: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but forfeit his soul?" Or, the urge from Paul to conform oneself to God and His holy will and pleasure. 4.      But, how to have such wisdom? How to obtain it? It comes only from loving God passionately and clinging to him intensely and following him assiduously, come what may. For many, Wisdom is an intellectual capacity or a mental calibre. But it is not. It is a renewed mode of being, it is a transformed way of living, it is putting on God's own perspective and walking judiciously in God's way. 5.      As seen in Jeremiah in the first reading, this is that fire of the heart that sets the whole person on fire to work for God and his holy ways despite all the adversities and afflictions. In the words of Jesus, this wise mode of living implies discarding all the false self, renouncing all self-interests, shouldering the cross of virtue and suffering patiently, and walking in his footsteps courageously and joyfully. 6.      Life changes when choices change. Choices change to be qualitative when the criteria for choices change from earth-bound to heaven-bound, from the material to the spiritual and integral. In other words, our perspectives, our horizons, our realms of thinking, judging, deciding and doing must change. This will be a shift from mere human capacity to the sagacity of God, from intelligence to transparency to God's Spirit, from competence to obedience to God's will. 7.      It is a contrast living: to detach from the self in contrast to a world which is inseparably clung to it; to carry the cross, to bear the pain and suffering for God and good, in contrast to a world that tries to shun any discomfort and inconvenience; further, it is to follow the Lord in his footsteps steadily and loyally in contrast to a world that stumbles and wavers in walking the Lord's way. 8.      When will God's light dawn on the human spirit that is so much darkened by the shades of self? When will wisdom and discernment become the guiding criteria in the place of intelligence and knowledge? 9.      When will people realise that it is foolishness to gain the whole world but forfeit one's soul? When will people understand that the more they are conformed to the world, they are only deformed, but they will be transformed when they are conformed to the Lord?   Lifeline: Man claims to be so bright and brilliant making the right judgment and choice. But is it not folly to settle for a lesser gain at the cost of higher losses?   (Reflection 2) Punch line: Losing is worth it! Guideline: We can never truly follow Jesus without the cross and loss, and we will only miss the whole point if we try to shun the cross in life   1.      It really looks ridiculous that many try to profess their loyalty to the crucified Saviour without really understanding and following his way. Can one follow the Crucified with no connection at all to his cross? Can one be a disciple without following the teachings of his Guru? 2.       Can one be a good servant without serving his master? Can one be a true companion without accompanying his partner? Can one be a genuine lover without loving his beloved even to the extent of death for the loved one? 3.       Often many are confused and misguided in following Jesus. It is not because of a lack of clarity on the part of Jesus. No, Jesus is crystal clear in his demands and promises. He never makes false promises, nor is he satisfied with half-measures and compromises. 4.       One can never be an authentic disciple of Jesus if he is not detached from his ego and self-interests if he is not ready to bear the cross of suffering and unfavourable situations if he is not wise enough to give priority to spiritual concerns and is not carried away by the worldly concerns and gains. 5.       If one is not true to his call to follow and resemble Jesus, it is only because he is still too attached to the world and there can be no other reason. “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” – this summon of Jesus is ever vibrating and compelling!   Lifeline: It is stupidity to claim to be so intelligent and competent, while one fails to discern and follow what is a priority in life, and that is, follow Jesus, the model of real values of a good life, applicable to anyone   (Reflection 3) Thrust: Lose so that you can gain! Indicative: To follow Christ is not merely a matter of allegiance by some label and profession. It is a matter of clear conviction and life-long commitment   1.      Following Jesus is not a matter of convenience and comfort, profit and use. It is an inseparable covenant and immeasurable commitment. It makes no room for compromises. It calls for total kenosis, forbearance, and unflinching zeal. It is loyalty to the crucified Saviour, carrying our own crosses. 2.       In the first place, following Jesus demands wholehearted self-denial, a total giving up of the ego. One who clings to self-interests, who is driven by egoism, and who is not ready to retrench all the ties and attachment to the layers of the false self, cannot be a true follower of Christ. 3.       This process of effacement and detachment necessarily involves suffering and obstacles. The weight of the cross of right values and afflictions will certainly press us down time and again. Like Jesus, we too may experience the “lost and abandoned” moments in our life. 4.       But the choice is clear and firm. It is an uncompromising choice to follow the Lord and not the world. This choice is made because of wisdom. This is the wisdom that discerns between “gaining the whole world but losing one’s own soul on one hand, and gaining the priceless soul and losing the world on the other hand”. 5.       Come what may, there is no turning back. However, it is not a futile enterprise. It is not a worthless choice and project. For, “whoever loses his life for the sake of the Lord will find it”; “the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done”. 6.       Thus, following Jesus is worth and fulfilling though it may appear to be absurd. It shows our love for him, loyalty, and commitment to him. And there can never be a true following of Jesus without renouncing the ego and carrying the cross patiently.   Imperative: It is really foolish that there are some followers of Jesus who wish and try to follow him without carrying the cross. Without a way of sacrifice, and perseverance that is smeared with love for the Lord, how can one follow him and arrive at the destiny of the glory of the resurrection?