How foolish was I Lord, that I thought I could serve You on my own terms. You the maker of Heaven and of earth, You who made me and gave me all that I have. Everything good I have fashioned was with the tools and materials You provided. And with Your guiding Spirit. It was You who blessed me with my family Lord. I can create nothing on my own and therefore I own nothing.
All my possessions are from You O Lord my God. Why then do I behave the way I do? Why do I give excuses for the selfish choices I make?
Heavenly Father You have been patient and merciful with me. Never once had You forced Your Will upon me but would gently lead me on when I placed my tiny hand in Yours. There is no greater joy than in serving You O Lord. There is no greater power than when my will is in union with Yours.
Lord Jesus I gladly bear my cross to follow You. Help me in the moments it gets too heavy and a little overwhelming. I know You will never abandon me. For great is Your love for me! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen
First reading
Philippians 2:12-18
My dear friends, continue to do as I tell you, as you always have; not only as you did when I was there with you, but even more now that I am no longer there; and work for your salvation ‘in fear and trembling.’ It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing and then you will be innocent and genuine, perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood, and you will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. This would give me something to be proud of for the Day of Christ, and would mean that I had not run in the race and exhausted myself for nothing. And then, if my blood has to be shed as part of your own sacrifice and offering-which is your faith I shall still be happy and rejoice with all of you, and you must be just as happy and rejoice with me.
Gospel
Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’
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