Every day we count costs, such as the costs of essential commodities, transportation, and the cost of living. Besides, our daily plans, decisions, and choices involve costs and budgets. Economists speak of all kinds of costs: direct costs, indirect costs, fixed costs, operating costs, opportunity costs, sunk costs, and controllable costs. In Christian theology, cost is the seed of reward. Dietrich Bonhoeffer mentions costs when he differentiates between cheap and costly grace. Cheap grace includes seeking grace without readiness to make sacrifices, seeking forgiveness without repentance, and communion without confession. In contrast, costly grace calls for the sacrifice of our most treasured possessions and pleasures, and for spending oneself, which includes laying down one’s life. Today, Jesus speaks to us about the cost of discipleship. What he says is shocking: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). The word ‘hate’ here means to love less. In other words, if we wish to be true disciples of Jesus, we must love God over and above all persons, including family members. Mother Theresa says, “For love to be real, it must cost, it must hurt, it must empty us of self.” To follow Jesus is to follow in his footsteps of love, to listen to him, to learn from him, and to translate his message into everyday life. Are we ready to be true disciples? *********************** Luke 14:25-33; Wednesday, 31st Week.