St. Paul's Cathedral, S.D. - Pentecost V Year C, Propers 8
July 1, 2007
I Kings 19:15-16, 19-21;
Psalm 16;
Galatians 5:1, 13-25;
Luke 9:51-62
For a nice sunny summer day, where one might want to focus on the beauty of creation or our love for others, today's Gospel gives us a pretty bleak picture of discipleship. In fact, chapter 9 of Luke presents us with a very demanding Jesus. First, he sends the disciples out to preach about the kingdom of God and gives them nothing to sustain them along the way: no walking stick, no change of clothes, no food, no money. They survive that test, finding some receptive people. We can imagine them heaving a sigh of relief later, as they lounge on the grassy hill near Bethsaida listening to our Lord's teaching.
Then comes another demand. When the disciples see people getting tired and hungry they (very pastorally, of course) suggest to Jesus that he send them away to find lodging and food. "You give them something to eat!" says Jesus. Protesting as they go, they nevertheless are able to see that all are fed from the 5 loaves and 2 fish. They passed another test!
More and more, the disciples have come to understand how special Jesus is. They also are coming to understand that his teaching does not lead to comfort and peace, as he demands that they ‘deny themselves and take up their cross daily to follow him'. The only cross they probably knew about was the one upon which criminals were killed, so this wasn't a comfortable image either. Yes, this 9th chapter of Luke is a hard one.
The next 23 verses give them and us respite, as they tell of the Transfiguration of Jesus and of healings. This is followed by a fight between the disciples over who is the greatest, a pretty arrogant position, considering what Jesus has asked them to do so far. But they are full of themselves, even challenging others who are emulating Jesus' actions.
Now we come to the verses we just heard, which show us an even harsher Jesus: "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."; "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God"; "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God"……Jesus, homeless, lonely, a wanderer, is unwilling to even let a potential follower bury his father before leaving with Jesus. ( Even Elijah let Elisha say farewell to his parents) Not Jesus. What's going on here?
Is this the road we are to walk, homeless, with no creature comforts? What cross are we to bear? And shouldn't we care for out families? Doesn't the love we have for our families and friends require our caring for them when needed, require being sensitive to them? In this series of passages, Jesus raises the ante as he turns his face toward Jerusalem. He asks his disciples and us to follow. As our lonely, rootless Savior moves toward his final self-offering, he insists, quite rightly, that we put God first, before anyone or anything. He demands much of us. His path leads away from peaceful Galilee…away from intimate friendships…trading them for the uncertainty and danger of Jerusalem *. He chooses the unknown, the future, and challenges his friends to do likewise. Yes, he demands much, but he offers much as well. The psalm for today expresses what that is.
Steeped as he was in the Hebrew Bible's songbook, we can be quite sure that the words of psalm 16 resonated with Jesus, bringing him comfort and affirmation for the path he followed. Vs. 8, 10, 1l: "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not fall…for you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your holy one see the Pit…You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore."
Jesus' path of life is always before us, challenging us to follow…
We will know times of suffering and want, emotionally, spiritually, yes even physically. Sometimes we will feel rootless and so detached we don't feel a part of anything. Sometimes it will seem that what is asked of us is just too much, just way more than we can handle. We will feel conflicted about where our loyalties lie, unsure if we are setting up idols (creating false priorities) or areas of our lives where we and our desires are at the center, not God…fearful of the future and what it will hold. It is at those times that we can trust Jesus to be with us and to understand, since he experienced the struggles of this earthly life too. He drew upon his Father's love. That same love surrounds us always and will lead us to the fullness of joy God promises.
Yesterday, several of us visited Dorcas House again. I am happy to report that ‘Jaime', the tiny abused 5year old has made great strides in the past 2 weeks. As I sat down with my guitar, this little person ran up, embraced the guitar and started plucking the strings, with a smile of delight on his face. I hadn't met him before, but Joan confirmed that I had indeed just met ‘Jaime'. Throughout the day, he was interacting with many others and was so happy. He is truly ‘drawing upon the Father's love', with the help of all those at Dorcas House. And we can do the same, each day of our lives. The same love that surrounds ‘Jaime' surrounds us and will lead us to the fullness of joy God promises.
WE CAN COUNT ON IT! Thanks be to God! Amen
*Thanks to McCoy and O'Driscoll, "Worship and Preaching" 1992.