TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

(Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90(89); Philemon 9b-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33)

Theme: Understanding the Demand of Our Corporate Existence

The wise man in today’s first reading reminds us that human reasoning cannot provide the complete truth about our collective existence and the vision of the human person. In other words, a secular judgment and conclusion about corporate man and his purpose often leads to success but not to contentment. Why? The wise man says, “The designs of reason are likely to fail, due to the weight of human weaknesses and passions on the soul, and the overwhelming burdens of survival and success on the mind.”

Thus, the collective man is left adrift when his pursuit of truth is blocked from the source of ultimate and objective understanding of his existence and vision.

In other words, God-neglecting truths will not offer ultimate answers to our questions about human success, pain, and death. At this point, we must humbly open ourselves to the light of faith, offering the concrete possibility of apprehending the rationale for our corporate existence.

Therefore, to ensure we do not miss our destination, we must continually surrender ourselves to our Lord Jesus, who embodies the answers to our questions. He is Wisdom from whom, through whom, and for whom we were given life, and in whom the entire process of survival persists. Therefore, to attain the fruits of wisdom, our Lord Jesus insists in today’s Gospel that our relationship with the Author of our existence must take precedence over all other relationships and survival commitments in this world.

In other words, a disciple of our Lord Jesus is called to complete loyalty and must therefore be ready to renounce or reject other things (even if they are desirable) for the sake of Him whom today’s Psalmist says has the power to turn us back to dust and grant success to our daily work.

Like St. Paul, who sent back Onesimus to Philemon to focus on his imprisonment for the gospel, we must be willing to endure the pains of losing friends, turning down lucrative job offers, owning luxurious houses, and enjoying the finest life has to offer, for the sake of being a full-time follower of Christ, a parent for Christ, a pastor for Christ, and a leader for Christ. However, nothing is lost because we are enabled to grasp our life’s purpose and God’s vision for us.

Thus, let us ask for an increase in wisdom to grasp the true purpose of our lives. May those contemplating a change in their life’s path encounter merciful love that deepens our relationship with the Lord and be given the strength to endure the costs and pains of following Christ.