Bro. Cherubim NZIIRWA BAHATI, sx
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Wisdom 9:13-18, Philemon 9-10. 12-17, Luke 14:25–33)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Arthur Schopenhauer once said that the greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness. In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to look beyond our treasured possessions, attachments, and even family ties, for the sake of following Him. This is the heart of sacrifice in the Christian life. We cannot hope to be true followers of Christ without sacrifice. We must ask ourselves: What does it mean for me to be a Christian in Sierra Leone today? How does my faith affect my daily life? What does discipleship cost me? These are not easy questions, but they guide us into deeper reflection.
Jesus never deceived His listeners about the challenges of discipleship. To be His disciple, we must be ready to let go even of family attachments, material wealth, and self-centered ambitions if they stand in the way of the Gospel. This does not mean neglecting love for our families or communities. Rather, it means putting Christ first, so that our love for others is purified and strengthened by Him.
Discipleship calls us to choose love over selfishness, sacrifice over comfort, truth over lies, peace over conflict, and brotherhood over division. In a society like ours, where poverty, corruption, and the struggle for survival often tempt us to compromise our Christian values, Christ calls us to stand firm and walk in His footsteps. He Himself sacrificed everything for truth and goodness, and we are invited to do the same. We cannot imagine Christian life without the cross. The cross of Jesus teaches us that suffering is not meaningless it purifies our motives, strengthens our character, and draws us closer to God. As disciples, we must be prepared to lose whatever is against the Gospel, even if it means standing apart from those who reject Christ’s values. In Sierra Leone and everywhere, this may mean resisting dishonesty in business, refusing to join in corruption, rejecting violence, and choosing forgiveness and reconciliation over revenge. Today, our world is influenced by materialism and the blind pursuit of technology and wealth. These forces can lead us away from Christ if we are not vigilant. As Christians, we must guard our identity and remain faithful witnesses in our families, our workplaces, and our nation.
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, let us ask the Lord’s forgiveness for the times when fear and selfishness weaken our commitment. May God strengthen us to be true disciples not just in words, but in daily living so that through our witness. May Sierra Leone and all the world become more and more a place of peace, justice, and love.
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Wisdom 9:13-18, Philemon 9-10. 12-17, Luke 14:25–33)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Arthur Schopenhauer once said that the greatest of follies is to sacrifice health for any other kind of happiness. In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to look beyond our treasured possessions, attachments, and even family ties, for the sake of following Him. This is the heart of sacrifice in the Christian life. We cannot hope to be true followers of Christ without sacrifice. We must ask ourselves: What does it mean for me to be a Christian in Sierra Leone today? How does my faith affect my daily life? What does discipleship cost me? These are not easy questions, but they guide us into deeper reflection.
Jesus never deceived His listeners about the challenges of discipleship. To be His disciple, we must be ready to let go even of family attachments, material wealth, and self-centered ambitions if they stand in the way of the Gospel. This does not mean neglecting love for our families or communities. Rather, it means putting Christ first, so that our love for others is purified and strengthened by Him.
Discipleship calls us to choose love over selfishness, sacrifice over comfort, truth over lies, peace over conflict, and brotherhood over division. In a society like ours, where poverty, corruption, and the struggle for survival often tempt us to compromise our Christian values, Christ calls us to stand firm and walk in His footsteps. He Himself sacrificed everything for truth and goodness, and we are invited to do the same. We cannot imagine Christian life without the cross. The cross of Jesus teaches us that suffering is not meaningless it purifies our motives, strengthens our character, and draws us closer to God. As disciples, we must be prepared to lose whatever is against the Gospel, even if it means standing apart from those who reject Christ’s values. In Sierra Leone and everywhere, this may mean resisting dishonesty in business, refusing to join in corruption, rejecting violence, and choosing forgiveness and reconciliation over revenge. Today, our world is influenced by materialism and the blind pursuit of technology and wealth. These forces can lead us away from Christ if we are not vigilant. As Christians, we must guard our identity and remain faithful witnesses in our families, our workplaces, and our nation.
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, let us ask the Lord’s forgiveness for the times when fear and selfishness weaken our commitment. May God strengthen us to be true disciples not just in words, but in daily living so that through our witness. May Sierra Leone and all the world become more and more a place of peace, justice, and love.