Father Gary’s Sermon

Luke 9:51-62

June 27, 2004

Rabbi Kushner, who wrote the popular book Why Bad Things Happen to Good People, also wrote When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough. In this later book he tells of a conversation with an eighty-five year old woman who lived in the hills of Kentucky. After inquiring as to the success of her longevity, she was then asked, “What would you have done differently if you could live your life over again?” Her response was quick, “I would dare to make more mistakes. I’ve been one of those persons who never went any place without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do again, I’d travel lighter.” In essence, she was saying that she would have taken more risks, creating more real problems and dealing with fewer imaginary ones. She would have lived a life of greater freedom and fewer entanglements.

Her comments raise some of the same issues that come up in our Gospel reading today. In this story Jesus has set his face towards Jerusalem. What this means is that he had made up his mind. His priority was crystal clear and nothing would be able to deter him. Indeed, he led his disciples along the road that went through Samaria. This was a shortcut. Normally, pilgrims going to Jerusalem from Galilee took the road along the Jordan River, which was much longer. This route was preferred because of the mutual enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans. While worshipping the same God at two different and competing locations, each of these groups viewed each other as heretics, resulting in much hatred.

Along this route Jesus came across at least three would be followers. The first one proclaimed an unquestioning willingness to follow Jesus. However, Jesus saw what was really in his heart. Here was one that was perhaps thinking Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem as a conquering general who would free the land from the Romans. In this one’s mind may have been the hopeful prospects of receiving booty and position in the new kingdom. Jesus, however, noted to this person that such thoughts were not necessarily in keeping with reality. As he now has no house to call his home nor any significant possessions to speak of, so Jesus could not promise any more than this to any who followed him. Whether this person followed Jesus or not is unknown, but Jesus’ words underscore the priority of his mission. Any who followed Jesus had to seek God for God’s sake and for no other reason.

The second person was offered a “call” from Jesus. Though expressing a willingness to follow Jesus, he noted that he was under obligation to look after his father. Now this passage makes it sound as though his father had died and needed to be buried. However, this is not what this man meant. Rather his father was simply aged. Indeed, he could have been strong and healthy. According to Hebrew Law, however, honoring his father meant looking after him until he died. What this man was doing was using a legitimate law to avoid a higher and riskier calling. Jesus was not opposed to this law. Indeed, from his own cross he looked after the welfare of his own mother, but not at the expense of his mission. Jesus fully knew that this man could have made similar arrangements for his father.

A third person received a similar call and accepted it. However, he requested that he first be able to go back home to say “good-bye” to his family and friends. He was merely asking for time to grieve as he shifted the gears of his life. However, once again we see how much of a hurry Jesus was in. To wait on this man would have slowed Jesus’ journey by a week or two. He did not have that kind of time. He had to move on.

What we see in all three of these circumstances was not the choice between “good” and “evil.” Rather the choices these individuals were struggling with were between what was “good” and what was “best.” Jesus was offering them a new life with new freedoms. They were struggling with entanglements in their present lives that limited their freedom. Because of these legitimate bonds, they were about to miss history in the making. By failing to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem, they were missing his death, as well as his resurrection. The ultimate enemy of all of humanity was about to be defeated. Their present entanglements that left them enslaved and dying at least temporarily missed the greatest freedom of humanity--the freedom over death and dying--.

Today Jesus continues to offer to all of us choices not only between “good” and “evil,” but between “good” and “best,” as well. With these challenges we are invited to consider what might keep us from accepting his “best.”

This is certainly true for me. For instance, with my recent move to Brewton I have become a homeowner for the first time in my fifty-four years of living. Until now, I lived in the home of my parents, college dorms, apartments, rentals, and rectories. Suddenly I find myself with new blessings. However, these new blessings also come with potential entanglements. Just this past week I had a new roof put on my house after suffering from some terrible leaks. In the past either my parents, school authorities, land lords, or the Jr. Warden of the Vestry would have taken care of this sort of a concern. It was their time and their money. Now it all falls on me. Furthermore, in the past I was able to pick up in a moments notice and move. Now I have no such convenience. If I were to make a decision to move today I would have to fix up the house, put it on the market, and wait. This now puts me in the place of one those persons being confronted by Jesus in our Gospel reading today. While I am truly blessed in living in a beautiful and comfortable home, I am also in the position of having to wait before I can answer any call of my Lord that might take me away from home. Therefore, today’s Gospel is very challenging for me.

It is probably safe to say that most of us face these same challenges. We are unable to accept our Lord’s “best” for any number of reasons. Perhaps it is the fear of the unknown. Maybe it’s the fear of possible suffering or the fear of change. In some cases, we may just simply be too comfortable to be disturbed. Whatever the reason, any reason defines for us that which entangles us. The more entanglements we have the closer to death we are.

Handling these entanglements, however, are not easy. A story told by Joe Garagiola may help our understanding. Joe Garagiola was once a popular baseball player, who became a famous sports announcer following his baseball career. He recalled a game that was going to determine a championship. As the catcher it was his job to communicate with the pitcher what kind of pitches to throw for any given player at bat. Coming to the plate was the infamous Stan Musial, one of the greatest hitters of his era. Crouching behind the plate Joe began signaling the rookie pitcher. The pitcher shook off the first signal, which was for a fastball. He waved off the second signal, as well, which was for his curve ball. He continued waving off the remainder of the signals calling for any one of his specialty pitches. Finally, Joe, feeling befuddled, called time-out to speak with the pitcher. After walking to the mound he asked the pitcher what he was looking for? What did he want to throw? The pitcher’s response, “Nothing!” From there he continued, “I just want to stand here and hold the ball for as long as I can.”

This pitcher was much like us. He was talented enough to take the risk. However, he was afraid of failure. Instead of seeing the possibility of striking out the great Stan Musial and winning the game, he could only see Musial making a great play which would cause this pitcher great embarrassment for the rest of his life.

While our fears will not stop Jesus from loving us, it will prevent us from receiving his “best” for us. Indeed, our inability to respond to his higher calling may eventually leave us unable to hear any future calls he may send our way. Each time we refuse his “best” we become more entangled until we reach the point where we lose our capacity to either “hear” or “respond” to the call of our Lord. At the end of our lives we will be left challenged like that eighty-five year old woman wishing she had taken more risks and suffered more failures for the sake of being free.

This coming week we are approaching the Fourth of July. This is a good to count our blessings and celebrate our freedom. As we do so, let us consider the “higher calling” of our Lord. What are those things that entangle us? What is preventing us from assuming greater risks for our Lord? What prevents us from receiving his “best?” What is the baggage that we need to let go of in order to experience our Lord’s victory over death and his “Resurrection” freedom?