LK 14:25-33
Dear Friends, These words of Jesus are very strong. In fact, they are the most extreme in expressing the demands of discipleship in all of the Gospels. Likewise, they probably are the most neglected.
It is clear from the rest of Gospel that Jesus does not mean that we “hate” our loved ones. What he does mean is that we must place Jesus first. It is simply a question of priorities expressed in the style of the language in Jesus’ time. This leaves plenty of room for concern and compassion for our loved ones
Secondly, the carrying of the cross is a non-negotiable component of walking with Jesus, of being a disciple. It is a clear and evident. Following Jesus has a steep price. We have to die to our selfishness. We have to cast off the world’s values of success and prosperity. We have to free ourselves from the clutches of a pervasive consumer mentality of bigger and better. Jesus’ forceful words leave no doubt about it, true discipleship is a costly affair.
The clarity and power of Jesus’ terms and the call to decision too often lead to either the neglect of true discipleship or its reduction as a commitment to a more convenient and comfortable Jesus. This distortion of a popular Jesus has been a challenge down through Christian history. The very elements of power riches, privilege and power that Jesus attacked in all his teachings, ministry and life too often are the operative values of his followers and Church. The Church has always been burdened by far more token disciples than true followers of Christ.
Today’s Gospel passage makes it quite evident. Jesus demands that we follow him on his terms. Jesus makes it obvious that everything else must make sense in light of this commitment. All other loves must find their true meaning and direction from the love of Jesus.
When we place this mandate of taking up the cross in isolation, it is both frightening and more than difficult. However, we encounter a much more enticing view when we place this call of true discipleship in the context of Jesus’ call to the Kingdom. Here we are invited to share the conquest of sin, injustice and eventual death of this life. We are invited to the Kingdom’s way of love and everlasting life. Jesus words, “My yoke is easy and my burden light” (Mt 11:30) make true sense.
Jesus asks us to calculate our decision on the basis of the final victory. That victory will not come from comfort and wealth, indulgence and prestige. All this will pass away. The ultimate victory is the conquest of the cross over all the evil of this world. The decisive victory is the cross as the instrument of the new life and everlasting love that comes in true discipleship to the risen Christ. There is no payment too high for this treasure that begins now when we walk with Jesus in the way of love. This love that flows from true discipleship begins with our loved ones but is always expanding to new horizons. It reaches out to the peripheries of the forgotten and neglected.
