But
first…063013
Luke 9:51-62
Luke tells
us 2 different stories in today’s text..one about being not welcome and the
other a sort of smorgasbord of short pithy even snippy words from Jesus.
But both
have a word for us 2000 years later…a word about what it means to be a
disciple.
What I’d
like you to imagine today, as I walk through these stories, is what that 21st
century word might be for you, for us from the 1st century….what it
might mean for OUR being disciples.
We’re going to do this a little more reflectively than usual, so be
prepared for that.
lets take a
moment of silence, to settle our bodies into the pews, to slow down the noise
in our heads, and open our minds and hearts to hear a word from God……
Disciples
are on a journey with Jesus…they’re on the way to Jerusalem, to who knows
what. The early Christian movement was
called “the Way” for this reason; they knew they were a force for change, and
had not yet become an institution…..are we?
Take a moment to reflect on that……
and on this
journey Jesus is one focused guy. He set
his face……… He has a determination
to be and do what he believes God wants—no matter the consequences. He seeks
the divine way at all times. (Song: Seek
God…) Back in the 1960s we saw this same
determination in the civil rights movement, and MLK Jr’s encouragement and
determination “We ain’t gonna let nobody turn us around!” You see, disciples stay so close on this
journey that Jesus rubs off, and they want the same thing…..do we? Take a
moment to reflect on that……
Disciples listen
– they have specific tasks—eg some have the job of preparing the way for others
to make a place for Jesus in their lives…what is it God asks you to do to help
others meet Jesus? Take a moment to reflect on that……
Disciples
often face opposition—the animosity between Jews and Samaritans was legendary,
and though Luke often portrays Jesus’ as very sympathetic to Samaritans, here
the story goes that they’re miffed at his being Jerusalem bound—it wasn’t their
holy city. Each group thought they had
the monopoly on truth….and this story shows how hot tempers can get. If we’re disciples, we won’t always be
welcome in certain company….even among ourselves in this faith called
Christianity. And this is tied to the next thing about disciples….
Disciples do
not retaliate—Jesus takes the nonviolent option, always. He does not seek revenge, will not engage in
name-calling, nor even distracting argument with those who reject or hurt
him….do we? Take a moment to reflect on
that……
Disciples
keep moving, together on the journey….then
they went on. Another reminder that discipleship is a movement, a way of
living, not a settled stay. One of my
daily readings this week from RB said: to
live in church is not necessarily a sign of holiness—to live always in the
breath of the Spirit is. and it’s
communal, not individual. And as they
went on This is a huge challenge to
our culture where individualism, independence and personal space have become
values of dangerous magnitude.
Discipleship means community… Take a moment to reflect on that……
Someone said I will follow you
wherever you go. Disciples genuinely want to follow
Jesus’ way. Really? Anywhere?
The Francis center? That’s where Jesus goes….. Circles Plus mentoring those who want to get
out of poverty? Cos that’s where Jesus goes…. Small groups for study and
deepening the spiritual practices by shared experience? Cos that’s where Jesus goes…. Disciples
genuinely want to follow Jesus’ way….take a moment to think about that…..
Disciples
are under no illusions—Jesus makes it clear that this isn’t easy. In the first century it literally meant
homelessness and turning your back on your social responsibilities. In the 21st century we’ve become
so tied by our stuff: homes, gardens, pets, all manner of responsibilities that
burden us, and we have made discipleship so bland we’ve lost the understanding
that living counter culturally isn’t easy…take a moment….
Disciples
are called in different ways—the last person was a volunteer who’d obviously
heard about Jesus and signed up…. This one hears a personal invitation from
Jesus, a direct, no-nonsense command.
God tries very hard in very many creative ways to get through to us….but
Disciples
want it their way….yes, but….but first let me….Jesus deals with this
resistance to God’s way in different ways.
With this one who was first invited to come/follow but who wants it on
his own terms, Jesus now instructs him
to go/proclaim. Unwilling to follow
didn’t excuse him from his responsibility of discipleship—just because I won’t
or can’t do such and such a thing doesn’t mean I am to do nothing. Disciples aren’t all called to the same thing
With the
next one, he says basically Disciples need to be single minded and focused…it
becomes who you are and what you do in all areas of life. Disciples live out the kin-dom of God, hour
by hour, day by day (song: “in everyone
and everything every day of our lives)…… Take a moment to think about……
In the first
century, with Jesus, there was indeed a radical break for disciples from their
current lifestyle. It was in fact a 24/7
choice to be homeless and moving into the unknown. Today it’s still a lifestyle, still a Way,
still impacts everything, still is countercultural. And for many of us, our culture is too
precious to inject Jesus into it.
This text
has usually been read to suggest that family relationships or social
responsibilities are opposite to the
Jesus way—it’s family OR following Jesus; it’s social responsibilities OR
discipleship.
But not, if
it’s a way of life then it’s a way of living IN family relationships and
society. Our spiritual life must infuse
and inform all of life-home, work, play, study, all are lived as disciples.
So last
moment for reflection: what kind of
disciple are you in your home? In your
service to others? In your social
circle? Do we “seek God in everyone and
everything every day of our lives?”
What’s
REALLY first?
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