4 October 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections

NOTE: Please click the Subscribe key on YouTube and press the black notification bell to receive the daily reflections. Or, open in YouTube for easy access. View and Like. Thank you. TOPIC: ARE YOU FIT AND READY TO FOLLOW THE LORD WHEREVER HE LEADS YOU?   First Reading: Nehemiah 2: 1-8 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 137: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 Alleluia: Philippians 3: 8-9 Gospel: Luke 9: 57-62 Jesus' response seemed extreme and would most likely be a great challenge, not only for His would-be disciples, but for us as well. We are free to decide whether or not we will take the path which Jesus offers but if we choose to go, then the Lord wants us to count the cost and to choose freely.  Jesus speaks to our hearts and basically tells us to detach ourselves from whatever might hold us back because following Him is an all-or-nothing proposition. Spiritual and material detachment is a necessary step for following the Lord. It gives us freedom to give all that we are to God without any form of reservation. The Lord promises that those who are willing to part with what is most dear to them for His sake "will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29). While many of us today may not need to give up the comfort of our own home and bed to follow Jesus, nonetheless we must be willing to part with anything that might stand in the way of doing God's will. May the Lord give us the grace to be finally ready to take the path that Jesus offers.     This is the 1258th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings. [NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Raymond Bucu, Head of CFC Gateway Evangelization, as he brings us today's reflection. All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS] #OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist