my disciple. Whoever does not follow me carrying his own cross cannot be my disciple. Do you build a house without first sitting
down to count the cost to see whether you have enough to complete it? Otherwise, if you have laid the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone
will make fun of you: ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ And when a king wages war against another king, does he go to fight without
first sitting down to consider whether his ten thousand can stand against the twenty thousand of his opponent? And if not, while the other is still a long way
off he sends messengers for peace talks. In the same way, none of you may become my disciple if he doesn’t give up everything he has.

Reflection

Before embarking on a construction project, we
need a good feasibility study so that an intelligent cost
analysis be made, and one can calculate the money that
must be prepared to finish the project. The same thing is
true with the following of the Lord. We should make deeper
reflections in order to calculate the cost of discipleship! The
specifications are out: “If you want to follow me, you
must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me”
(Matthew 16:24). And so discipleship is a costly project.
We have to know if we can afford it in advance, or are
we willing to pay the price once we embrace it. Our fists
were closed when we were born into this world. There is
a certain selfishness and selfcenteredness within us. We are
not naturally disposed to deny ourselves. But Christ promises
an easy yoke to those willing to do so (Matthew 11:29). But
let us be aware that Jesus only assures us of the ease
and lightness of his yoke. The assurance does not include
immunity from problems. Nonetheless it is good enough.
Everything is light and easy because of his grace.