“Being willing to be ‘filtered’ and living in holiness, with a sense of mission to bring all people to the Love of Christ!”

(Based on Wis 9:13-18b, Philem 9-10,12-17 and Lk 14:25-33 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

Filtration is a process by which any material is passed through a certain device to remove unwanted elements in it.

Filtration happens every day around the world.
>> It occurs both in nature and in engineered systems.

For example…
… in many living bodies (including humans), renal filtration removes wastes from the blood
… in water treatment and sewage treatment, undesirable elements are removed by absorption into a filter medium


Every filtration has three basic components:

1. The Feed: The original material with the presence of unwanted elements
2. The Filter: The mechanism/device that does the cleansing
3. The Filtrate: The matter that comes after the process


Our Life as a Christian is also a “process of filtration”

And has three components as well
1. The Feed: Our lives – with our own weaknesses and sinful tendencies
2. The Filter: Jesus, the Crucified Lord – Who Cleanses us
3. The Filtrate: Our life as a Disciple of Christ – lived in holiness and with a sense of mission

Are we willing to allow the “FEED” of our lives to encounter the “FILTER”…
… so that we can emerge as pure and holy “FILTRATE?”


The Gospel of the Day is this exhortation of the Lord to all who seek to follow Him:
“If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters…
… yes, and even his own life, cannot be my disciple!
>>
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple!” (Lk 14: 26-27)


The Gospel begins with the statement that “Great multitudes accompanied Jesus…” (Lk 14:25)

The multitude – crowds of people – probably had various intentions of following Jesus
>> Some to receive healing and be touched by Him (Lk 6:19)
>> Some to hear the Good News and to follow Him (Lk 5:11)
>> Some to simply eat the bread (food) that the Lord provided (Lk 9:17)
>> Some to satisfy their curiosity and fascination (Lk 4:22)
>> Some to question Who He was and What was His motive (Lk 7:18-19)


Whatever be the intention of the crowds, the Lord was clear in whom He wanted as His followers:
>> Those who give the highest priority in life to the Lord
>>Those who would take up their cross
>>>Those who are willing to give up everything, for the sake of the Lord


Towards this end, Jesus cites two parables which would make every disciple of Jesus question their authenticity of following Him
a. The Parable of the one desiring to build the tower (Lk 14:28-30)
>> Are you willing to count how much it will cost you, to follow Jesus?

b. The Parable of the king who wanted to wage war (Lk 14:31-32)
>> Are you willing to calculate the risks that are involved, to follow Jesus?


This is a serious challenge that is placed before all Christians, who profess to follow Christ…
… and also to all those, who in ministry, seek to attract disciples for Christ!

Have I “counted the cost” and “calculated the risks” to know, that following Jesus means…

… not to simply run behind miracles and wonders; rather also involves living as Jesus did – in poverty, obedience and purity of heart!

… not just having a Christian name and fulfiling basic duties; but also implies to give the highest priority to the Lord and His Kingdom values, in all what we do!

… not merely reciting prayers and raising hymns of praise; but also infers at reaching out to the poor and needy in self-giving and doing everything for the Glory of God!


A Filtration Process is a must for every follower of Christ.

All of us, surely have our weaknesses and tendencies to be attracted to worldly ways
>> We very often, even have the goodwill to truly follow Jesus…

However, because of…
… lack of strong motivation
… ignorance and lack of people who can guide us
… various discouraging and deterring incidents and scandals
>> We fail to truly Follow Jesus.


We, the FEED, need to offer our lives to Jesus…
… and allow ourselves to pass through Our Crucified Lord – Who is our FILTER!

>> He will cleanse us to make us pure
>> He will strengthen us with proper motivation
>> He will nourish us with courage and passion to be bold and faithful

And thus, we will be able to live as the proper FILTRATE – a disciple of Christ…
… living in holiness and with a sense of mission to bring all people to the Love of Christ.


Are we willing to be “Filtered?”


God Bless! Live Jesus!


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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE LITURGICAL CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST – The movement of the celebration
>> All gather together. Christians come together in one place for the Eucharistic assembly.
>> At its head is Christ himself, the principal agent of the Eucharist.
>> He is high priest of the New Covenant; it is he himself who presides invisibly over every Eucharistic celebration.
>> It is in representing him that the bishop or priest acting in the person of Christ the head (in persona Christi capitis) presides over the assembly, speaks after the readings, receives the offerings, and says the Eucharistic Prayer. (CCC #1348)
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