Category: Today’s Bible Reflection

31 Jul Are you a follower or a Disciple of Jesus?

|Lk 14:25-26|

READINGS

First Reading – JEREMIAH 26:1-9

1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoi’akim the son of Josi’ah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, 2″Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. 3It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil which I intend to do to them because of their evil doings. 4You shall say to them, `Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you, 5and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not heeded, 6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.'” 7The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. 8And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, `This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm – PSALMS 69:5, 8-10, 14

4More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? 7For it is for thy sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face. 8I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother’s sons. 9For zeal for thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult thee have fallen on me. 13But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of thy steadfast love answer me. With thy faithful help

GOSPEL Lk 14:25-33

25 Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, 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 begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace. 33 So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.