Trinity 3
Readings: Galatians 5: 1, 13-25; Luke 9: 51-62
27/06/04
I used to be indecisive, but now I’m just not sure. When I have to make a decision, I
take a long time over it. I think about
all the possible consequences, good and bad. And even when I think the decision is made I
still might not stick to it. It can
be quite a traumatic process in some cases.
Today’s gospel reading shows a number of different reactions and decisions that
people made about following Jesus.
The Samaritans refused to receive Jesus, they refused him hospitality, which was a big
thing in that culture at that time.
The reason given is that Jesus had set his face to go to Jerusalem. What’s so
important about a trip into the city that would
cause the Samaritans to reject Jesus’ presence in their village? There were
long-standing religious differences between the
Samaritans and Jews, so that even though they worshipped the same God they had a
difference of opinion over how and where the
worship should be conducted, and which was the most holy place. This was so strong that
the two tribes hated each other. And
still today, matters of worship and liturgy, certain points of faith and belief, can cause
division even between Christians –
it seems to be human nature. Jesus’ disciples were so cross on his behalf that they
wanted to call down fire from heaven to
destroy the village, but Jesus told them off for that. They didn’t have the right to
be judge and jury. Just because this
village rejected Jesus now, it didn’t mean that they wouldn’t have another
chance. For instance, in a separate story in the
Acts of the Apostles, Luke tells of a village of Samaritans who were all baptised with the
Holy Spirit, we don’t know that
was the same village but we don’t know that it wasn’t either.
Another person said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Not long after Simon
Peter would be saying the exact same thing to
Jesus, and he would be told that he wouldn’t be able to live up to his own promise.
Perhaps Jesus feels this person in
today’s gospel reading hasn’t thought out his decision, or doesn’t
understand what he’s getting into – he lets him know that
it won’t be an easy ride, “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”, he
says, would you still follow me even if I called
you away from the comfort of home? I like to think that he thought about it and still said
yes, maybe a bit more humble and
thoughtful, but still following.
The next two people that Jesus speaks to both try to delay their decision. “Let me
bury my father”, says one. Jesus’ response
of “Let the dead bury their own dead” seems quite harsh, but then he tells him
“you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” –
you go and bring life to others. God’s priorities are often shown to be different
from our own, often conflicting with the
standards of the world.
The final person to address Jesus says he wants to say goodbye to the people at home, and
Jesus tells him “No one who puts
his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Isn’t that
overkill? He just wants to say goodbye to
his family and then he’ll be right there. But when Jesus says those words perhaps
he's pointing out that there are
circumstances when our own familiar ways of behaving, our comfort zone, can be harmful to
our spiritual journey... and if you
turn away having once started, you won't get to heaven because you're going the wrong way.
Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians, “For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit
again to a yoke of slavery.”
If I were released from slavery, I'd like to think I'd forge on in freedom, rather than
return to the familiar – comfortable
– chains. But somehow it seems to be much more difficult when there is no visible
sign of captivity.
Paul lists a number of behaviours which he considers “works of the flesh” or
sinful behaviours, they are the baggage of human
nature: “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions,
factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing.” Now I would think very carefully before
using the word ‘licentious’ against anybody,
and the same with many of the things on that list; but can anyone really say they’ve
never been angry, or maybe a little
envious, or had a quarrel? These are some of the things he says are opposed to the Spirit
and things that will prevent us
from inheriting the kingdom of God.
So, you’ve heard about eternal life and you think it sounds better than what you had,
you want to enter the kingdom of God,
you know the road from the old life to the new isn’t easy – Jesus’ way is a
narrow way and a difficult way – but you’re being
guided by the Holy Spirit, so you’ve taken a deep breath and set your face towards
the kingdom of God, you’ve put your trust
in God and taken his hand and started to walk. Now, don’t turn back, don’t
regret your decision, and don’t walk back onto a
road that leads to death because it seems more comfortable and familiar.
We should use our freedom, not to indulge ourselves, but to serve one another, following
the law of love set down by Jesus:
“Love your neighbour as yourself.” If we set our faces on Jesus, letting
ourselves be guided by the Spirit, we will follow
the law of love. And being guided by the Spirit we will bear the fruit of the Spirit,
“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These things would, firstly,
make us easier people to live with
individually and, secondly, make us a community which others are drawn to; they make us
Christ-like, they make us Christian.
Be guided by the Holy Spirit; trust Jesus; follow the law of love, and you will reach the
kingdom of God.