A reflection on Luke 9:51-62

Knowing what he was called to, Jesus set his sight on a destination still quite far away. The journey would bring with it fear and courage, sorrow and joy, death and life. The journey would ultimately remake the world as we knew it, forevermore.

Jerusalem. That was the goal. Aka the beginning of the endgame. Certain of his call, Christ sent messengers ahead to prepare a place for him along the way. But the path led through a land hostile to Jews: Samaria. Their request to enter was denied. The disciples would have to make other plans.

With centuries of religious and racial animosity between their peoples, the refusal of hospitality wouldn’t have been a surprise. Still, Jesus hoped to warm relations between the people.

Upon hearing the one they followed would not be welcomed the disciples asked Jesus a shocking question.

Lord, should we command fire to come down from the heavens and consume them?

The disciples felt Jesus had been wronged. They wanted retribution. They were ready to take an eye for an eye. Jesus rebuked them. Instead he turned the other cheek.

Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall be called children of God.

They headed to another village, shaking the dust off their feet as they left.

Along the road, someone approached, looking to join. Jesus warns them the path will not be easy. Sometimes you will be welcomed, other times less so. They will eat when they can, trusting God will provide. There will be no comfort food, no place to call home, no place to truly rest.

Another person approaches, also interested in taking up the cause. But first let me go and bury my father, the man requests. When a parent dies, there is plenty for the children to sort.

My wife Kathi is in the middle of this right now; her dad died earlier this week. And she is an only child, so all of it falls on her. Preparing the house for sale. A funeral to plan, people to contact. There are all sorts of minutia to manage. It’s a lot.

Jesus wants nothing less than to set us free from the swarm of details that stressful life events like this bring. An invitation is offered: follow me. Be released of your burdens. Become who you are called to be.

A third person approaches. They too desire to take the road less traveled. But first the person has a request: let me say goodbye to everyone before following your footsteps. Jesus senses in the person a lack of resolve. Jesus knows the ongoing challenges he creates for religious and political powers. He knows these challenges create risks for everyone who chooses to join the cause. Jesus wants people fully dedicated around him. People that are fully committed to Christ’s call.

Keep your hands on the plow, Jesus tells the man. Stay focused, look forward, not back. For we have kingdom work to do.

Here
At St. John’s we follow the footsteps of our savior in all sorts of ways.

We provide a free lunch for the food insecure through our Connection Café feeding program. We do this five days a week. To make the program possible we offer this shared ministry the use of our building, electricity, heating and cooling. With each meal shared, each soul comforted, each conversation had, we offer our neighbors something far beyond idle words. We offer them tangle support. In our actions we share Christ’s love.

When our city government removes the unhoused from public spaces, and planned projects to add more low income and transitional housing repeatedly fall through, we don’t stand idly by.

We advocate for the rights of our neighbors with local officials, imploring them to better care for all their citizens. We invite the unhoused to sleep right outside our doors here at 600 6th Avenue, offering water in the hot summer, blankets in the freezing cold. With each child of God served we provide basic shelter from their many storms of life.

This summer our Unhoused ministry team is looking into what it would take to add a port-a-potty near our building. Bathroom access in downtown Des Moines is a known issue and allows us to help meet that need. This also enables us to better care for our neighbors during the hours our building is closed. With a recent ordinance change the City of Des Moines has signaled they will approve the request. In the coming months we are hopeful we can implement this important initiative.

We do so not because of personal politics.
We do so because Christ calls us to.

Why
As our gospel text illuminates, following Jesus is not easy. Christian discipleship carries with it costs. The three would-be disciples in the text all needed to leave something behind first before they could follow. Things like expectations, rituals, societal norms. We all do. And yet our kingdom work is clear:

For I was hungry and you gave me food.
I was thirsty and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

We might ask ourselves, Lord when was it we did these things for you?

Jesus reminds us, truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.

Beloved, as Christ followers we too set our sights on a destination. It is to care for all of God’s children, without exception, that we meet. It is the road less traveled. Sometimes we get rejected along the way.

The journey brings with it personal transformation. From –

fear to courage,
sorrow to joy,
death to life.

The journey makes us partners with our creator, ensuring –

God’s will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

To follow Christ is to put our hands to the plow, and get to doing God’s kingdom work, not looking back.

Let’s get to it, friends.
No other journey will do.