132. Teachings on the Way: Parables—of the Building of a Tower, of War, of Salt. Lk. 14:15–24

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying: This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Salt is a good thing; but if salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!