Sunday 4 September

23rd Week in Ordinary Time

Wisdom 9:13-18, Ps 90, Philemon 9-10, 12-17, Luke 14:25-33

A Christ bearer

In the upper room Christ shows the disciples his wounds (John 20:20). The crucified Christ patterns the disciple on himself. The disciple so transfigured says to the world, “see this wound, this is where I was forgiven 70 x 7,” “see this gash, this is where I returned to my beloved,” or “see here, this is where I was pierced by love.” To carry the cross in this way is to be vulnerable to the world in holy foolishness. Some brothers and sisters walk away sad unable to bear the imprint of the cross (Luke 18:23).