As Christians, we are called to be disciples of Christ. In today's Gospel, we are reminded that as disciples, Jesus demands a total giving of self. There can be no half measures, no holding back, no hesitancies. We are called to a total self-giving, even of our own lives, if need be, following Christ's example on the cross.

Jesus warns us that following Him will bring its fair share of hardships and persecutions. There will be crosses for us to carry. Are we up to the challenge? Have we thought of the cost we will incur when we follow Christ and the way of the Gospel? These are important questions we must ask ourselves before we blindly follow Christ.

In order to discern how we are to live out His call to be His disciples, we need the Wisdom of God. The first reading speaks of this wisdom as being granted from above by the holy spirit. We need to constantly pray for this wisdom in order to listen to and know what the promptings of the Holy Spirit are. We need to be in communication with God. With our focus on Christ, we shall not lose our direction or vision. Without losing focus we can then carry out all that God intended for us. We can give up all that does not help us realize His will for us.