Wednesday – 31st Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 14:25-33

Planning Ahead

Before/After - Tennessee

It’s been a little over a year now since we moved into our new home here in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.  Looking back, it was a mad rush of packing up our Chicago home and building/moving to Tennessee.  Constant trips back and forth to Chicago, weekly (almost daily) appointments with medical professionals, lab tests and infusions.  Sorting through all the 42 years of Portage Park memories, heartfelt goodbyes, finding a realtor and all the prepping of the house for open houses!  Securing a reputable mover for our ‘stuff’.  And then picking out furniture and appliances, layout and floorplan for the new homestead.  Measuring out and planning exactly where to place the new house on the homestead!  Setting up new utilities and service, and landscaping!  And all the stress of selling one house and moving into another!  Quite the juggling act of closing one door (one life) and opening another! 

And that doesn’t even include all the lists and timelines, planning and details and schedules of what to do, when to do it, and how!  It just goes to show you!  You gotta know what you’re doing!  You gotta have a plan!

There are no rosy words or comforting remarks in today’s Gospel.  Jesus makes it very clear – being Christian, being a disciple demands effort and sacrifice.  This is not a hobby or some weekend pastime. It is not something that just happens by accident. It takes time, planning, preparation, and work.  And it means setting aside some things so that we can focus on what is most important – being a lifelong faithful disciple!  It means setting priorities, turning your back on some things in order to focus on what’s most important!

So prepare!  Prepare to build your tower of faith, knowing that you will have to turn your back on other projects and interests.  And be prepared to battle against the forces of darkness and greed and selfishness, to suffer for the sake of eternal life

Great Spirit, teach me today to walk in prayer and to keep my faith strong!


 

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