“51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[a]?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village.
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”” Luke 9:51-62
In today’s full reading, Jesus had lots of harsh words to say. Let the dead bury the dead. No one who looks back is fit. Tough stuff to hear, no? The whole point is that God may at times be harsh with those who earnestly follow. Jesus’s path is not easy. The world will push against you. One reaction will be to call down fire , to consume all the obstacles in your paths. But Jesus instead calls you to buckle down for the longer journey, that it’s serious business. But it’s oh so worth it, because you are worth it. Follow and trust. God will provide.
Lord, your path is difficult. Provide me with tools I need to complete your task. Amen!
Leave a Reply