Following Christ is greatest blessing
Published Sep 6, 2025 12:05 am
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Updated Sep 5, 2025 05:24 pm
WORD ALIVE
Jesus’ words of Christ in the 23rd Sunday’s gospel sound harsh, blunt, and even disrespectful. But the Lord, in his Semitic way of teaching, is emphasizing an important message. He’s saying that nothing, not even family relationships, should stand in the way of following him completely. If a conflict of interest arises or work or leisure interfere, a disciple should prefer to follow Jesus.
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For instance, some parents discourage a son or daughter who wants to follow the Lord in the religious life. Those parents will be answerable to the Lord.
On the other hand, there are generous parents who sincerely wish and pray that one of their children would enter the religious life. They believe that a son or daughter who has a religious aspiration is a special blessing and gift of God.
The call to discipleship applies not only to the religious life but to “every” Christian.
Jesus’ message today is that anything or anyone who is hindering the discipleship must reflect deeply.
What are these hindrances? One is work. Some people are so enslaved with material pursuit that they have no more time for God, their family and fellowmen.
Another hindrance may be a deep-rooted vice or sin. There’s a story about four clergymen who were discussing confidentially about their own weaknesses.
“I’m very partial to eating sausages,” confided a Jewish Rabbi whose religion forbids eating pork. “I get through a bottle of whisky a day,” said the Protestant minister. “I have a strong temptation to a girl,” said the Catholic priest.
Then they turned to the Born Again minister and said, “What about you—surely you have a secret vice?”
“Yes,” he said, “I am a chronic gossiper.” And the three deeply regretted ever divulging their vices.
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Another obstacle to discipleship is the pursuit of inordinate money obtained through illegal and criminal means. Common practices nowadays are briberies or merciless money lenders that cause the poor lenders to go bankrupt.
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Ask yourself: “What’s the thing that hinders you from following Christ? Is it attachment to work, money or illicit relation?
The answer will be different for each and every one because this is something personal. But what’s important is that we must have a plan in life, which does not seek only temporary material success but more so the spiritual.
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SVD anniversary
Sept. 8, is the birthday of Mama Mary. It is also the foundation anniversary of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) founded in 1875 by German priest Arnold Janssen, now a saint.
The Society of the Divine Word ranks fifth largest among the male religious congregations worldwide and the biggest male congregation in the Philippines.
To date there are 137 Filipino SVD priests and brothers working in 45 countries.
SVD priests and brothers in the Philippines are involved in the following apostolates: parishes, seminaries (Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City, SVD Theologate Tagaytay, Divine Word Mission Institute Tagaytay; colleges/two universities: San Carlos Cebu and Holy Name Tagbilaran) justice and peace, mass media.
SVD Fr. Flaviano Villanueva is a self-confessed drug user who recovered from addiction and was ordained a Catholic priest in 2006.
“In 2015, Villanueva founded the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center, which provides food, clothing and shelter to thousands in need in the Philippines, including those who may have engaged in drugs and petty crimes.
At the onset of Duterte’s drug war in 2016, Fr. Flavie launched Project ‘Paghilom’ to help provide funeral, legal and psychosocial assistance for victims.”
Fr. Flavie Villanueva, together with Asian winners, will be presented with their awards at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Nov. 7.