The Gospel isn’t meant to be gulped down on Sunday morning, but gnawed on through the week so it really becomes a part of us. You’ve got to work at it, like a dog with a good bone! Here’s the Gospel for this coming Sunday — the Third Sunday After Pentecost — with food for thought about hospitality, security and following Jesus.  Gnaw away!

Third Sunday After Pentecost – Luke 9:51-62

As the time approached when he was to be taken from this world, Jesus firmly resolved to proceed toward Jerusalem and sent messengers on ahead. They entered a Samaritan town to make preparations for him, but the Samaritans wouldn’t welcome Jesus because his destination was Jerusalem.

When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Rabbi, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and destroy them?” But Jesus turned and reprimanded them. Then they set off for another town.

As they were making their way along, they met a fellow traveler who said to Jesus, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have lairs, the birds of the sky have nests, but the Chosen One has nowhere to rest.”

To another traveler Jesus said, “Follow me.” The traveler replied, “Let me bury my father first.” Jesus said in return, “Let the dead bury their dead; you go and proclaim the reign of God everywhere.”

Yet another traveler approached Jesus in this way: “I’ll be your follower, Rabbi, but first let me say goodbye to my people at home.” Jesus answered, “Whoever puts a hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God.”

The Backstory – What’s Going On Here?

We’re at a hinge moment in Luke and we see it in the first verse here: ” Jesus firmly resolved to proceed toward Jerusalem.” Prior to this, Jesus has been more of an itinerant teacher in Galilee, but something different is happening here. There is a new focus — Jerusalem, not just as the center of Jewish life and provincial Roman authority, but as the place where Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and resurrection will occur. It is not a journey for the faint of heart, and Jesus’ teaching demonstrates right away that it is a journey that requires spiritual maturity and single minded and -hearted dedication.

A few things to chew on:

*”Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Chosen One has nowhere to rest.” Following Christ is about embracing homelessness. That’s not about glorifying poverty. Jesus is saying that following him fully requires giving up security … even the security of knowing where you are going to sleep at night. Jesus lived in a society that was much more communally oriented than ours. There was an understanding that travelers would be housed and cared for. Our society is much more individually focused, leaving most people to fend for themselves. Where are we called to give up security and to provide security for those who have likewise given it up?

*”Let the dead bury their dead” seems harsh enough to us, but even more so to Jesus’ listeners, who had a sacred obligation to family (“Honor your father and mother”). Jesus is saying that loyalty to him … setting your face toward the cross … is the first loyalty above all others. Now, we also believe that caring for our spouses/partners/parents/children is a part of following Christ … as it involves loving those whom God has given us — so it’s important to remember this isn’t necessarily an either/or. But we do have many competing loyalties. When loyalty to Christ and country/law collide — which do you choose? When loyalty to Christ and the demands of a friend collide — which do you choose? Have you ever faced a time when you have been forced to choose between doing what you believe Jesus would have you do and another important, competing loyalty? What did you choose?

Try This:

Looking back with your hand on the plow is the fastest way to plow a crooked furrow and not get a good harvest. Yet it’s human nature to treasure and want to gaze upon and preserve that which has been so meaningful to us in the past. Take a few minutes each morning this week and think about your time at All Saints Church — whether it’s been 50 years or 50 days. What has been meaningful to you? What does part of you wish would never change? What would it feel like in you to be willing to give up whatever it is that is precious if it meant us as a community following Christ more closely … knowing that the destination is Jerusalem and the cross?

Hold Your Fire

Something different is going on here.

In the story of Sodom (Genesis 19), the people of those cities are inhospitable and abusive to two angels who came into their town. Like Jesus, they were sent by God and were seeking hospitality and shelter. The people of the town (to put it mildly) did not receive them well … and God’s punishment was to rain fire from the sky and consume them.

This story would have been well known to Jesus’ disciples, so when they are similarly rejected by a Samaritan village, knowing their history, their question is natural:

“Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

God’s answer before had been yes. But Jesus turns and rebukes them. Then they all went on to another village.

Something different is going on here.

Jesus’ dedication to who he is does not involve destroying those who do not share that dedication. The journeys of Jesus are not Sherman’s march to the sea. They are not “Join or Die.” Jesus offers an invitation to participate in his life — an invitation that can be accepted or rejected. But he does not demonize or rain fire down upon this village that decides to shut its doors to him.

Jesus knows what is in his power … and that is to choose to go to another, more hospitable, village.

James and John’s reaction is very human. Are there times in your life where your response to people who don’t embrace your ideals is to brand them as enemies to be defeated … or even to think of them as evil? Are there times when you wonder why God doesn’t just rain down fire upon those who reject you?

What can we learn from how Jesus responded to James and John’s question?
What can we learn from the new way Jesus is showing us?

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Check out the rest of Sunday’s readings

The Lectionary Page has all of the readings for this Sunday and every Sunday – click here for this Sunday’s readings.

Collect for Sunday

Pray this throughout the week as you gnaw on this Gospel.

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Want to read more?
“The Text This Week” is an excellent online resource for anyone who wants to dive more deeply into the scriptures for the week.
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