Homily of the 23rd Sunday in OT, Year C : No Cross, No Crown

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C: 07th September 2025 No Cross, No Crown: The Real Price of Following Jesus First Reading Wisdom 9:13-18b Responsorial Psalm Psalm 90:3-4,5-6,12-13,14-17 Second Reading Philemon 9-10, 12-17 Gospel Reading Luke 14:25-33 Have you ever tried to start something big without counting the cost—maybe building a house or beginning a business—only to realise halfway that it’s harder than you thought? Today, Jesus gives us that exact image. He says: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) These are strong words. Some people hear this Gospel and are shocked. “Hate your father and mother?” “Give up all your possessions?” But Jesus isn’t preaching hatred. He’s saying: Discipleship is radical. God must come first—above family, friends, comfort, or even our own ego. Jesus uses two parables today: building a tower and going to war. He’s asking: Are you ready to pay the price of following me? The saints and modern heroes of faith understood this. Mother Dolores Hart, once a glamorous Hollywood actress who starred with Elvis Presley, left it all to become a Benedictine nun. She exchanged red carpets for the quiet of the cloister. Why? Because Jesus became her first love. Or think of Phil Mulryne, who once played football with Beckham and Giggs. He gave up Premier League glory to become a Catholic priest. The crowd he now faces is not in a stadium but in the sanctuary. That’s the price—and the joy—of real discipleship. But you don’t need to be famous to follow Jesus radically. For you, it might mean forgiving someone who hurt you deeply. Or standing up for truth when everyone else walks away. Or choosing honesty over quick success. Maybe it means turning off the noise of social media to sit with the Word of God. All of these are little crosses—but they lead to big crowns. And yes, it's not easy. Real grace is never cheap. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who resisted Hitler and died for it, wrote: “Cheap grace is grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” But Jesus never gives us empty promises. He says in Matthew 19:29: “Whoever has left everything for my sake will receive a hundredfold—and eternal life.” My dear friends, Jesus is worth everything. But following Him means everything. No cross, no crown. No sacrifice, no true joy. The path is narrow—but it leads to glory. Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you carried your Cross to save me. Teach me to carry mine with love. Give me courage to put you first, no matter the cost. When I feel weak, remind me that no sacrifice for you is ever wasted. Help me to live not for cheap grace, but for real love. Amen. 🕊️ #NoCrossNoCrown #RadicalDiscipleship #FollowingJesus #CatholicHomily #FaithWithFire #GraceWithSacrifice #23rdSunday #OrdinaryTime #Discipleship #CatholicFaith #CarryTheCross #FollowJesus #GospelLiving #FaithInAction #InVerboUnum