Luke 8:57-62 |
It’s the know-it-all who always has the last word. You know: the person who no matter what you say, retorts some kind of counter-response to everything you say.
Jesus might feel a bit like that in today’s passage.
But he’s driving home the notion that discipleship - following him - is no joke. It’s not that any of these three would-be disciples are wrong in their intentions. Jesus “simply” checks the length to which each one should go in their following.
It’s easy to excuse what we do as enough. I go to church every Sunday. I am the child of a pastor. I took a mission trip a few years ago. I read through the whole Bible.
There’s nothing wrong with any of these statements - they can all be contributive to the Kingdom. But we do not rest on good intentions and past actions. In following Jesus, we press forward into the newness of tomorrow’s hope.
And by the way…Jesus does know it all.
At least, he knows all there is to know in regard to living out the way of God.
And so we listen.
Luke 8:57-62
As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One has no place to lay his head.”
Then Jesus said to someone else, “Follow me.”
He replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and spread the news of God’s kingdom.”
Someone else said to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those in my house.”
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom.”
Psalm 30:4-5
You who are faithful to the Lord,
sing praises to him;
give thanks to his holy name!
His anger lasts for only a second,
but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Weeping may stay all night,
but by morning, joy!
Prayer
God,
Thank you for today, a Sunday. I pray for all my brothers and sisters around the world, gathering today to worship you. When I think of our diversity, I marvel. Large cathedrals, small wooden rooms, under trees - our spaces of worship can be so different.
When I think of our differences of thought, my marveling can turn into fret. But I don’t suppose you worry, do you? Help me to see your Church from your perspective, Lord.
Help us today as we worship you - to hear you for who you are and who you want us to be.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
“...to hear you for who you are and who you want us to be.” Amen.