"No pain, no gain." Many people use this saying to educate and motivate. This proverb, known since ancient Greek and Jewish times up to the modern era, explains the relationship between effort and results, or sacrifice and reward. While every success comes at a cost, people must wisely choose only the necessary sacrifices. The Word of God in today's Gospel (Luke 14:25-33) also speaks about the price that must be paid by those who wish to become disciples of Jesus.
Jesus presents His demands using hyperbolic language. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
This statement poses a great challenge. Jesus requires that all who want to follow Him must love Him above everything else.
Furthermore, Jesus stresses that following Him is a decision that comes with a significant cost. Therefore, one must carefully consider everything. Jesus compares it to someone wanting to build a tower—a tall, prominent structure visible to all.
A tower can elevate one's prestige. Don't many nations compete to build the tallest towers? Likewise, following Jesus is an action of immense value, deserving enormous appreciation. Therefore, one must prepare diligently and carefully for it. Failing to complete it would only bring shame.
Jesus also illustrates it as a battle. Someone who wants to follow Jesus is like a person going to war. They must assess their own strength and consider the strength of their opponent. This means those who wish to follow Jesus must be prepared to face various external challenges.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues that the cost of discipleship is everything. It is a whole-life response to God's costly grace, requiring immediate obedience, daily cross-bearing, and active love. His life and death stand as a powerful testament to this conviction.
There is one more demand that Jesus clearly states at the end of today's Gospel. "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples" (Luke 14:33). The demand is not only to prioritize Jesus above family but also to detach oneself from all possessions.
At first glance, all that Jesus teaches and demands seems beyond human capability. When relying solely on human understanding, no one can fully comprehend it. The first reading underscores this: "Who can ever learn the will of God? For human reasoning is inadequate, and our intentions are prone to failure. Our mortal bodies weigh down our souls, and our earthly anxieties hinder our ability to understand" (Wisdom 9:13-14).
Do we wish to be followers of Jesus? Remember His demands. If we are already His followers, we must understand the price that must be paid. Are we ready to pay the cost of discipleship? "No pain, no gain." May the Lord grant us the courage to follow Jesus and pay the price of true discipleship. (*)