Ephesians 2:12-18 / Luke 14:25-33
There is a story about two university professors who were talking about their students.
One professor said that he had about 200 students who attend his lectures.
The other professor thought for a while and then he said : I also have about 200 people who attend my lectures, but I don't know how many of them are really my students.
We might think - how can one listen to the lecturer and not be his student? What is the difference anyway?
That's the same question that Jesus is asking us also : What is the difference between a follower and a disciple?
Great crowds followed Jesus wherever He went, but He was not too concerned about the number of followers.
He was more concerned about who really wanted to be His disciple.
To be a disciple of Jesus means to learn from Him, to give up one's will for His and to have Him as the sole master of his life.
In the 1st reading St.Paul gave various aspects of discipleship.
One is to do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing so as to remain innocent and genuine children of God.
For St. Paul, he would even be willing and happy to shed his blood for the faith of his people.
Yes, the price of discipleship had to be carefully considered.
Because either Jesus is Master of our all, or He is not master at all.