A Homily on Luke 14:25-33 : Count the Cost Before You Act (5-11-25)

A man once built a beautiful house. It looked like a small palace, shining with paint and pride. Everyone who passed by admired it. People said, “He is a lucky man. See how blessed he is!” But behind that house, there was another story. He had borrowed a huge sum from the bank. At first, he was confident he could repay it. But slowly, the interests grew, his business failed, and the pressure mounted. Every day, he sat on the corridor looking at his grand house, but peace had already left his heart. One morning, unable to bear the burden, he took his own life. He had not counted the cost before he began. What looked beautiful from outside became his sorrow from inside.

Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “Which of you wishing to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost?” (Luke 14:28) These words may sound simple, but they touch every part of life. Whether it is building a house, entering marriage, or choosing the call to priesthood or religious life, Jesus asks us to sit down and think. Following Him is not about quick excitement or emotion. It is a decision that asks for commitment, sacrifice, and courage.

Before a person marries, he or she must know that marriage is not an easy road. It is not only about romance or comfort. It is about patience, forgiveness, and carrying one another’s cross daily. When problems come, if they have not counted the cost, they may give up too soon. Many families break today because they began without understanding what real love costs.

The same is true for those who choose the path of priesthood or religious life. In the beginning, there is joy, enthusiasm, and applause. But soon come the lonely days, the misunderstandings, the sacrifices, and the temptations of the world. If one has not counted the cost before saying “yes,” he may fall away when the cross comes. Jesus does not want disciples who start with joy and stop at the first pain. He wants followers who will carry the cross till the end, as He did.

Even parents must count the cost when they dream for their children. I know a young man who joined a medical course because his parents wanted him to become a doctor. He did not have the strength or interest for it, but he joined out of fear of disappointing them. After some time, he dropped out and lost direction in life. The parents too suffered. They never sat down to count if it was truly his path.

Counting the cost means asking honestly, “Am I ready for what this will demand of me?” It means knowing that every blessing has a price, and every true love has a cross. Jesus never hides that truth. He tells us clearly that following Him will demand letting go of some comfort, pride, and even family ties when they come between us and God.
In the Old Testament, Noah counted the cost when he built the ark though others laughed. Abraham counted the cost when he left his home. Moses counted the cost when he gave up palace life to lead a complaining people. Each of them trusted that what they gave up was nothing compared to what they would gain in God.

My dear brothers and sisters, every one of us is building something : a home, a vocation, a future, a soul. Let us sit down, like the wise builder, and count what it will cost to be faithful to Christ. It may cost tears, patience, or even rejection, but in the end, it brings peace that the world cannot give.

Lord Jesus, let me not be a fool who acts without counting the cost. Amen