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Sermon for Pentecost 4 Proper 8c
July 1, 2007
The Cathedal Church Of St. Philip, Atlanta
The Rev. Canon Todd Smelser, Preaching
Summertime is a great time to catch up on one’s reading. In addition to my two morning newspapers, I’ve got a stack of magazines that have yet to be gone through, and as is my custom, I’m in the middle of reading three books right now. Vacations are often for me the perfect time to pack away a few novels, or a historical work or perhaps even some light theological reading. Some folks read travel stories during the summertime, so this section of Luke’s Gospel is very seasonal, since it’s the story of a trip with Jesus. The little piece of the story, which is today’s lesson, occurs at the beginning of the trip that takes Jesus from popularity in Galilee to the cross in Jerusalem.
In today’s story, we see Jesus doing one of those things that is characteristic of him. He is inviting people to “follow him”. In this lesson Jesus says repeatedly to people “Follow me, come with me.”
In the New Testament Jesus actually uses that invitation “Follow me” twenty-two times. He doesn’t say “worship me” or even “love me.” He says, “follow me—walk with me—do what I do—learn from me—be close by—follow me.”
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem He encounters three would-be followers. The person says to Jesus, I’m ready to follow you wherever you go. Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests: but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
To another Jesus said, “follow me” and the man replied, “I will come along but first I need to take care of some family business, I have to bury my father. To this Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And to a third, who wants to say farewell to those at home, Jesus said to him “Non one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ words to these fellows seem pretty harsh, and any clergy I know who might take this tact, would have some pretty angry parishioners to deal with—in addition to cut pledges. But Jesus seems to making a clear point that if you are going to follow, there is a personal cost.
Twenty centuries later, these words still challenge followers of Jesus. We too must face the cost of discipleship. Our Christian journey parallels the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem. Signing up on the dotted line means that everything becomes secondary to serving the Kingdom of God and sharing the Good News of the Gospel. Following Jesus will cost us.
On this Sunday, prior to the celebration of July 4, when many of us will spend time with family and good friends, and remember the founding of this nation, giving thanks for our freedom, Jesus’ words on this day remind us that as important as family and friends and nation are, God’s affairs take priority over all human affairs, no matter how important they may be.
I don’t think Jesus is against burying the dead, or is anti-family, or is unsupportive of national identity, although of course he was living in an occupied land. He was speaking to those would-be followers of his own experience. He too was trying to serve his God. He too left his parents and his hometown, as he preached and healed and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He had counted the cost, and would not ask any would-be followers to do things he had not already done.
Things have changed enormously since that first invitation to follow Jesus was made. There are now almost a billion Christians in the world, not just a small band of followers. We have large and complex church structures, grand Cathedrals and multi-million dollar budgets. We have sophisticated agencies and charities, web pages and computer networks. This may not have been what Jesus had in mind, but this is where we find ourselves today as followers of the Way.
But you know the cost of discipleship if not time-conditioned. We a re under the same word as were the first disciples. We too are less secure in the world than foxes and birds. The mantle of discipleship has now been passed to us, and how shall we shape a future generation of followers?
Jesus never sought followers for himself, but rather he sought followers on the path that he himself walked. That path can be hard indeed. It can keep you restlessly on the move; it can call you to a new life’s work; it might even lead you to Jerusalem.
After thirty-three years of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, I think I’m still learning how to be a better disciple of Jesus. My prayer life could certainly be better, and my generosity greater. I could have found that extra time to visit more shut-ins this week, or probably could have spent more time on this sermon. I could have curbed that defensive posture when I heard a critical comment about the Cathedral, and perhaps offered better advice with a parishioner. But the one thing I have learned in this journey is that God does not expect me to be perfect only faithful, and that at the end of the day, God loves me for who I am. For the path that leads to the kingdom of God is the way that leads to true life in fullness and abundance of the spirit. As Paul tells us in the letter to the Galatians, the fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” This is still the life that Jesus calls us to. And the invitation is still the same: “Follow me.”
Comments? Contact The Rev. Canon Todd Smelser at: tsmelser@stphilipscathedral.org