The Parable of the Tower Builder

No fixed feast day in the calendar

The Parable of the Tower Builder: the back of the card, with its short story, lesson and a QR code that opens it in the Catholic Information app. The full text is below.

Flip the card and scan the QR code on the back to open it in the app

To build a tower, you first sit down and count the cost: following Jesus takes thought and a whole heart

What is this parable?

At that time, great crowds were following Jesus. He turned and spoke to them about the cost of being his disciple (cf. Lk 14:25-27). Then he gave two short examples: a man building a tower and a king about to go to war. This card tells the example of the tower builder.

The story

A man wants to build a tower, perhaps a watchtower in the middle of a vineyard. Before starting, he sits down and works it out: how many stones he will need, how many workers, and whether he has enough money to finish it.

Jesus says that if he does not work it out first, and lays the foundation but cannot finish, everyone will laugh at him: “This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.” (Lk 14:30). After the example of the king, the Lord concludes: “In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14:33).

What does Jesus want to teach you?

The Lord does not want us to follow him for fun for a while and then give up halfway. Following the Lord means putting him above everything, ready to give up whatever keeps us from loving him. That is truly not easy, but you do not have to build on your own: God is always beside you to help. He only asks you to be sincere and to keep going.

This parable is not just about planning your spending wisely. The Lord is teaching us to think carefully about the most important decision of our life: to live completely for God.

A lesson for you

When you have promised something good, like going to Mass regularly or studying your catechism carefully, try to keep it to the end.
Think before you act, so that you do not give up halfway.
Every day, ask God for the strength to follow him faithfully.
When you find it hard to keep your promise to God, ask your parents and catechists for help; do not give up on your own.

Identifying marks

A builder sitting at a table, counting pebbles one by one: someone who thinks carefully before deciding to follow the Lord, knowing what it will ask of him.
A wax tablet in his hand: what people long ago used for writing and counting the cost; he thinks carefully before starting the work.
A plot of land marked out with stakes and string, with no tower yet: following the Lord is a lifelong building project; once you have started, you need to keep going to the end.
Blocks of stone stacked up and ready: what we have, offered to God to build our lives.

The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.