Fr. Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on the Gospel for this Sunday, September 7, 2025, entitled “Whoever does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

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In the Gospel, we see how many people accompanied Jesus.

Among them, some were simply curious and went to see what was happening, what Jesus was doing, but with no intention of following him. They are more interested in the things of Jesus than in Jesus. They live waiting for extraordinary signs that “certify” the Word of the Lord, and they don’t realize that miracles are not meant to satisfy curiosity or magical desires; they are signs that invite us to “believe” in Jesus and strengthen faith (cf. Catechism 548).

Others were sympathizers, who listened to Jesus with pleasure, but didn’t decide to follow him; they hung around Jesus a lot, but never met him; they always had some good “excuse” to postpone following him.

There were also some pious people who knew all the traditions and devotions, even down to the fine print. They may pray a lot, but their hearts are far from the Lord; they seek their own glory, not God’s; they seek to do their own will, not God’s (cf. Mt 8:21-23).

And there are also the disciples.

Who are the disciples? Jesus told us: He turned and said to the people who were with him, “Whoever comes to me and does not reject father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even their own life, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not take up their cross and come after me cannot be my disciple… Whoever among you does not renounce all that they have cannot be my disciple.”

A disciple is someone who has had a personal encounter with the living and risen Jesus Christ, lives by faith, and lets the Lord lead his life.

And this is not moralism, but the beginning of a new life.

If you welcome God’s free love into your heart; if you believe that God loves you just as you are and invites you to live a new life; if you believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again for you; if you welcome the gift of the Holy Spirit every day, you will see how the Lord gives you a new life.

So new that Saint Paul will ask Philemon to welcome Onesimus as what he is, a brother, reborn in baptism by water and the Spirit.

So new that our whole life will be joy and jubilation.

Where are you? Where do you want to be?

To be a disciple, you need the Holy Spirit: no one can say “Jesus is Lord!” unless moved by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3).

Christ invites you to renounce everything that prevents or hinders you from following Him. Some will be hindered by money, others by disordered affections, others by their pride, others by their vanity, others by their fame, and you…

The Lord is calling you, listen to him, love him, follow him!

Come, Holy Spirit!