Wednesday, February 5, 2014

A Job Worth Doing




A Sermon preached on February 5 at the Evensong Service at St. Willibrord’s Church, Munich
1 Peter 1:13-16, Luke 9:51-62


So, what do you think of the following job description?
Salary and Compensation: There is no salary, not even an accommodation allowance, but you are expected to be available at any time, and in any place, whenever the ‘boss’ wants you.      
Responsibilities & duties: Pretty simple – to be an agent of change and transformation.  
Qualifications/experience/skills: This job requires single mindedness, a clear forward-looking focus, a strong sense of vision, a willingness to stand for change and to discard old habits and structures that stand in the way of the change and transformation. Candidates need to “walk the talk.” And last but not least: applicants must trust the one they are working for absolutely.

So is anyone interested? Can I have a show of hands please? Well I’m afraid that this was the description of a job that you have already applied for. I have just rephrased what Jesus has to say in today’s gospel extract about those who want to follow him and his Way.

The whole central section of Luke’s Gospel, from chapter 9 through to 19, contains Jesus’ teaching on the nature of discipleship. Luke sets it, appropriately, in the context of a journey: Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem which starts here with the line (9:51) “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem” and ends with his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Through his actions, through his parables and metaphors, and through direct teaching Jesus instructs those who follow him on all sorts of issues: on possessions and priorities, on prayer, on forgiveness and unconditional love, and on the costs of discipleship.  As I tried to show with my job description, it will not always be easy. Being a messenger for or a representative of the Kingdom of God does not bring great power or an exalted position; instead it can often lead to incomprehension and rejection. Jesus’ journey is not a triumphant march. The progress of the gospel of the kingdom is marked by acts and messages of love and of grace.

Jesus makes very clear that there are conditions attached to following him. His followers are not better than others, and they are certainly not necessarily clever – James’ and John’s question to Jesus “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume the Samaritans?” shows that they could be pretty thick at times. But Jesus does expect complete commitment. In the three examples we heard today Jesus uses exaggeration to make this point clear and to jolt his listeners. Just like his parables they are not to be taken literally, they are meant to make us think so that we can draw our own conclusions. To do that, we need to understand both the context, and the images. So let’s take a closer look:

The first volunteer's offer sounds open-ended; he will go anywhere Jesus goes. But Jesus wants to make clear that he is no ordinary teacher or rabbi. Jewish scholars would often leave home to live with their teachers to study the Torah. However Jesus, just like the Old Testament prophets, has no fixed abode and cannot offer those who follow him a comfortable place to live and to study, for even birds and animals will have more luxurious accommodation!  On the one hand, God will and does provide. But we cannot assume, unlike those who preach the prosperity gospel, or those who once joined the church for privilege, wealth and power that Christianity is all about financial blessing or that following Jesus will increase our material wealth and prosperity. Discipleship requires resolve.

The second scene involves a man who wishes to bury his father before he comes to follow Jesus. Jesus’ response, "Let the dead bury their own dead," (9:60) seems very harsh considering how important a proper and timely burial is in Judaism. We should not take it too literally, after all the dead cannot bury anyone! Jesus’ reply is a reminder, that not even the "best excuse" possible should be allowed to get in the way of discipleship. And I think today it can also be a warning both to individuals and to institutions, not to hold on to structures, habits, or customs that are “dead” and stand in the way of the Kingdom of God we are called to proclaim.

In the last short dialogue the potential disciple wants to say goodbye to his family first, which Jesus answers somewhat enigmatically with his statement, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’(9:62). We need to know that at that time the ploughman would guide the plough with one hand, and with the other drive the probably unruly oxen. If the ploughman were to look back, the furrow ahead would become crooked! Or in my case if I look back too long when riding my bicycle I will either come off the path or even fall off my bike! It is a plea for focus and for concentration on the task and vision ahead.

Complete commitment, utter resolve, a willingness to let go and to change, total focus – and all for no reward? And what if I can’t always give this commitment, if I slip up? As I said earlier, Jesus uses exaggeration to get his point across. If Jesus forgives the Samaritans who do not, and cannot support his journey to Jerusalem – in their eyes the site of the wrong temple – how much more will he forgive those of us who want to be his disciples and sometimes – or perhaps almost always - miss the mark. As for the reward, the Kingdom of God, the message of God’s goodness, that we are called to “go and proclaim” is the reward. In and through the Kingdom we will live in “harmony with God, within ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation.”[1] And I think that sounds worth working for!
Amen


[1] The Catechism, BCP, 849

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