PROPER 18C
September 9, 2001
 
Give it up. Give it ALL up -- and live!
by Linda Kraft

Luke 14: 25-33

Today's gospel reading didn't sound like very good news as it was being read, did it? Jesus is telling the crowds to hate their relatives and even their own lives. He tells them they cannot be his disciples if they won't go where he's going, to the cross. He wants them to be realistic about what it really costs to be a true believer, a follower of Christ, a Christian. He tells them "none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."

Now, don't worry. Don't get up out of your seat and head out the door because you're not prepared to do all these things. Once again, Jesus' words have posed a challenge for us, one that we know we're not ready to accept. Haven't we been taught, repeatedly, from this SAME Jesus that we are to LOVE one another? Haven't we been advised by this SAME Jesus to be good stewards of all that we possess? Haven't we been asked by this SAME Jesus to help one another bear life's burdens? How could we do that if we were to make martyrs of ourselves? This is a confusing teaching we've heard this morning.

But, with open minds, let's explore how this teaching of Jesus might NOT be contradicting the other things Jesus has asked of his friends, his followers, his disciples.

The key to unlocking Jesus' meaning in this passage came right at the beginning. Luke tells us "large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and spoke to them." I think Jesus knew there were some among the crowd who were only there because he was the big celebrity of the day. They were there like roadies or groupies hang out around rock stars. They knew that wherever Jesus went there was a lot of commotion and they wanted the thrill of being associated with him. They could brag to their friends, "Oh, yeah, that Jesus guy? Well, I was with him when he..." They could drop his name at the cocktail parties and people would turn to listen to anything they had to say. They weren't really interested in learning about God's presence in their world or the eternal life God had provided for true believers. They just wanted to impress other people with their own status.

In today's church, perhaps these would be the people who "church shop" for a place to worship until they find somewhere where there are professional people, politicians and other big wigs in the congregation. Then they join that group hoping to "network" or rub shoulders with the movers and the shakers.

In that large crowd, there were people following along only because their relatives were part of the group. They almost HAD to be there following Jesus down the road because the rest of their relatives would be embarrassed and ashamed of them if they didn't do exactly what the rest of the family was doing. Or maybe there were financial reasons why they were there. Maybe some relative had threatened to disinherit them if they didn't follow a particular way of life, and the threat of losing that inheritance was more compelling to them than any of Jesus' teachings about love and stewardship and compassion for one's neighbors.

In today's church, perhaps these would be the people who are only members out of habit, because their families founded a particular congregation or because great- grandmother would roll over in her grave if they weren't seen in church by all the other descendants of the founders. They're a part of the congregation only out of obligation.

In that large crowd, there were people following along only because they were waiting for the next magic act, the next big miracle, the next scheduled show time. To these people, Jesus was an entertainer. He could always be depended upon to perform some amazing feat if one could only have patience. Who knew when he might heal another leper or restore another one's sight? They didn't even think to ask where Jesus' power came from. They were just there for the show and the possibility that some day THEY might be the ones to benefit from his ability.

In today's church, perhaps these would be the people who are only members because they want "death insurance." They follow along, going through the motions because they're afraid of what happens after they die. They put in an appearance within these walls a couple times a year just to keep their "insurance policy" in force. They don't take part in the routine operations of the organization. They don't volunteer their services for special projects. They don't incorporate bible reading and studying the scriptures or prayer or mediation into their daily routines. They contribute either a few dollars a year, or a one-time huge donation in order to keep the contract in place.

But, also in that large crowd were people who were genuinely interested in what Jesus had to teach them. They were risking all they had — their reputation, their livelihood, their relationships — everything! just to follow the teachings of this mysterious man of God. Something had spoken to their hearts, to their very souls. They were grabbed, snatched, wrestled away from their daily ways of life and compelled to listen to what this small-town rabbi had to say.

These are the people who knew what Jesus meant when he told the crowds that day that they must hate their relatives and even their own lives, that they must give up all their possessions and that they must take up their cross and follow him into death.

Following Jesus, truly following him, demands that we give up all sense of self. THAT is an overwhelming challenge and one we must struggle with each day in order to truly call ourselves Christians.

For, in giving up our lives for others, we are following Jesus to the cross. We are living his example of love, mercy, gentleness and devotion to the kingdom of God. We are counting the cost and accepting it as a way of life, the Christian way of life — today and into eternity.

[This morning we are gathered to hear the Word of God. And, in the middle of listening to what God has to say to us today we're including a celebration of the long marriage of Gary and Cynthia Brown. Their family and friends and fellow members of Holy Trinity are here to share their joy.

But, these two wouldn't have made it through forty years and counting of marriage if they hadn't had some sense of what our scripture lessons have taught us today. A loving marriage cannot last if the partners are selfish and unwilling to give of themselves. Like in today's reading, God knows the couple's relatives are going to challenge their commitment. Parents might not support their children's choice for a mate. Their own children may challenge their commitment with outrageous behavior, life-threatening choices, destructive or inconsiderate actions. But, the marriage based on faith in God and in their love for each other will survive.

Life itself may challenge a marriage with illness, depression, economic changes or traumatic losses, but the marriage based on faith in God and in their love for each other will survive.

The realities and often the ordinariness of daily routines might challenge a marriage, but a couple's ability to look Efor joy, for the odd quirkiness of life, for the beauty in a flower, the gentleness of a touch, the scent of a poignant memory — that ability to appreciate all God's gifts will sustain them through the teum of daily life.]

Whoever wishes to be my disciple must give up all they own, Jesus said. Every good gift, every relationship, every life-changing event that shapes who we are is a gift from God. Therefore, we OWN NOTHING. God shares God's own life with each of us. Some of us grab more than our intended share and then there are those who suffer because of our greed. We can fix that. But, we must be willing to give up something of "our own" in order to do as Jesus demands.

Our challenge today is to search our hearts and souls to see WHY we claim to be Christians. We are challenged to look at what we consider our most prized possessions and realize they are all gifts from God. We're asked to examine our relationships and renew our intentions to be loving and compassionate, considerate and supportive, loving each person as if that one were Jesus himself.

We can do this because we are secure in God's promise of grace. God will not stop loving us as we struggle to come to the realization that all we have is not really ours. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we have God's renewed promise of love that can sustain us as we examine our lives and continue our efforts to live as Christ taught.

So, search your hearts and souls to find the most valuable portion of all that you are — the love of God that lives in you. Live in that love each day, now and into eternity. Amen

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people according to their needs.

Life-giving God, you have taught us how to live by giving us your commandments. Your love sustains us as we grow in your ways. Your gifts to us are too numerous to count. We choose to live according to your decrees but we confess we are weak and lose our way, often many times each day. Strengthen us according to your will so that we might be good examples to others of your loving mercy. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

Gracious God, it is up to you to determine who are the righteous and who are the wicked. Yet, we often take this responsibility upon ourselves. Teach us to move through the seasons of life seeking your face in each one we meet so that, like you, we may be generous in compassion and eagerly seeking justice for each of your children. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Psalm 1)

God of all nations, we remember in our prayers all those who are slaves to addiction, victims of abuse, neglect, illiteracy, prejudice, violence and poverty. Release them from their torment that they might live wholesome lives. Strengthen us to speak on their behalf so that the world might know where true love lives — in you! Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Philemon 1:1-21)

Generous God, you have provided us with all we are and all we have. Our very lives are in your hands. We pray for those today who need to know your presence in their lives:

Are there others we should include in our prayers?

Be near them, Lord, and grant them peace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Luke 14:25-33)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.)

Linda Kraft, Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Stafford Springs, CT
Secretary, Slovak Zion Synod, ELCA
Board Member: ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools