The Cost of Discipleship

09-15-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Augustine Acheme, VC

This Sunday’s readings challenge us to confront the true cost of discipleship and the depth of our commitment to following Christ. Through the words of Isaiah, James, and Jesus, we are called to reflect on the sacrifices required to live out our faith authentically and to consider what it truly means to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of a suffering servant who remains steadfast in the face of persecution: “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard” (Is 50:6). Despite the suffering, the servant finds strength in God, declaring, “The Lord GOD is my help; therefore I am not disgraced” (Is 50:7). This passage highlights the courage and resolve needed to endure hardship for the sake of righteousness. It reminds us that discipleship often involves enduring trials, but with the assurance that God is our help and we will not be put to shame.

The responsorial psalm echoes this theme of trust in God’s deliverance, proclaiming, “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 116:9). The psalmist expresses gratitude for God’s saving power, acknowledging that it is God who frees us from death, wipes away our tears, and steadies our steps. This psalm reassures us that even as we face the challenges of discipleship, God’s grace sustains us and gives us the strength to persevere.

In the second reading, James addresses the relationship between faith and works, emphasizing that “faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas 2:17). James challenges us to demonstrate our faith through our actions, particularly in caring for those in need. This reading calls us to examine the authenticity of our faith and to recognize that true discipleship is not just about belief but about living out that belief in tangible ways. Our faith must be active and evident in the way we love and serve others.

The Gospel presents a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry when He asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mk 8:29). Peter responds, “You are the Christ,” but Jesus quickly shifts the conversation to the reality of His mission: suffering, rejection, and death, followed by resurrection. When Peter resists this notion, Jesus rebukes him, saying, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does but as human beings do” (Mk 8:33). Jesus then teaches that true discipleship involves self-denial and taking up one’s cross: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34). This call to embrace the cross is a powerful reminder that following Christ requires a willingness to sacrifice, to lose one’s life for the sake of the Gospel.

These readings challenge us to consider the cost of our own discipleship. Are we willing to endure hardship and make sacrifices for the sake of following Christ? Are our actions reflective of our faith? Jesus calls us to a life of self-denial and active service, a life that may involve suffering but ultimately leads to the fullness of life in Him.

This week, let us reflect on what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Let us commit to living our faith with integrity, demonstrating our love for God through our actions. As we face the challenges of discipleship, may we find strength in God’s presence, knowing that He is our help and our salvation. Amen.

Fr. Augustine Acheme, VC