It’s a wonder people don’t get up and walk out of church hearing today’s gospel. Maybe some teenagers, having issues with their parents or siblings, might hang around, after all Jesus is advising that they hate father and mother and brothers and sisters. As for the rest of us, Jesus’ opening words today certainly sound offensive. At best, some members of the congregation might just shrug their shoulders and say to themselves, “I don’t get it!”
Last week, while meeting at the home of an important Pharisee and his guests, Jesus told those at table not to invite family and friends to their banquets, but instead “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Well, we could excuse him for that strong teaching after all, he was speaking to a Pharisee and his friends. But today he is addressing crowds who were travelling with him. To these people Jesus speaks about “hating” family members. He goes on to say that followers must renounce all their possessions. Now that’s no way to add numbers to your list of fans and followers! What’s going on here?
Jesus was a Semite and he spoke Aramaic. Some would translate “hate” as “love less than.” In his language expressing something in extreme opposites was a way of making a clear point. So, do we “get the point?” It sounds like he is saying that if we accept his invitation to follow him it will cost us. We might even be rejected by our family and circle of friends. Those who were turning to Jesus and his ways would appear to be turning their backs on family. If our relatives espouse a lifestyle and values contrary to Jesus our turning towards him would feel like “hate” to our family.
In Jesus’ Mediterranean world membership in family gave a person their identity. Apart from family a person did not exist. So, to choose Christ would cut one off from one’s family and the identity derived from membership in the clan. Accepting the invitation to follow Christ would give a person a new type of family — a family of disciples, not of blood relatives. It doesn’t mean every Christian has to pack up and leave family but, for some, it might. What would happen to a person’s identity then without a family? He or she would take on a new identity as a baptized Christian, belong to a new family and be called by a new family name — “Christian.”
Luke tells us that Jesus is speaking to the crowds. This time he is not addressing those he called to follow him, his disciples. Instead, he is speaking to those who might be thinking about following him. Earlier when someone had such a notion he said to Jesus, “I will be your follower wherever you go” (9:57). Jesus responded to, what sounds like, a person caught up in enthusiasm, with a stark reminder, “the foxes have lairs, the birds of the sky have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (9:58). A sobering reminder of what it will mean to follow the one who has “nowhere to lay his head.” The costs of discipleship might mean detachment from one’s previous world and way of living. Jesus is asking total loyalty to him. Anything within ourselves, or with those we love, which might create a split in loyalties, must be put aside in favor of Christ.
In the two parables that follow Jesus is asking us to consider the cost and strategy for following him. In the agrarian world a tower would be built to protect crops or a vineyard from animals or thieves. The war/peace parable shifts the example from farmer to a king at the head of an army. The social spectrum is complete. Whether peasant or royalty, we must consider carefully if we are going to respond to what Jesus asks of his disciples — full investment of self. What are our resources and how much are we willing to invest, or give up, to follow him?
Isn’t that similar to the planning people must do if they are going to invest in a college education or buy a house? How much money do we have? If we buy the house can we afford mortgage payments and still have enough for food, medical insurance, maintenance, car payments, etc. If I go to this university will the loans I take out put me in crushing debt for years after I graduate? Should I go to college at all? What kind of work do I want to do now and in the foreseeable future?
Jesus used examples from his world; a farmer’s lookout tower, a king and his army marching into battle. We would use different examples for life’s challenges — but we get his point. Have we considered what Christ’s invitation to follow him involves? Are we realistic about the personal costs investing our whole selves will require? Are we willing to use our strength and resources to fulfill the promises we have made to Christ?
Even more to the point: have we heard his most direct challenge, “Whoever does not carry his/her own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” How costly is that! To be willing to carry a cross, an instrument of sacrifice and death; willing to accept pain and loss of our own lives to respond to Jesus’ invitation to discipleship.
Who among us hasn’t stumbled, or even failed miserably, in our calling as disciples? We have chosen comfort over sacrifice. We have been still, when we should have spoken up. We prefer diversions, rather than learning more about our faith. We have existed on the edge of our church community, rather than given time and resources to help build it up. We have let others serve us at liturgical functions, instead of signing up as a lector, server, eucharistic minister, choir member, usher etc. Have I compromised on my call to follow Christ and the sacrifices that call requires?
At some point or another we have compromised as disciples. That’s why we begin Mass with the penitential rite, in which we acknowledge our failings. We can say with Peter, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful person.” But the emphasis isn’t on our sin; it’s on the mercy of God, as we pray, “Lord have mercy.” We struggle to do the best we can, and when we don’t, instead of pulling back in shame, we come together as a community that surrenders in trust to God’s mercy.
Today we hear Jesus put three demands before us, his disciples. We must be willing to risk family ties, practice self-denial and have a readiness to give up possessions. Discipleship is costly and not something we can take casually. It’s not easy to follow Christ. But we are not on our own. When we fail, Christ is by our side ready to respond to our plea, “Lord have mercy.”
Nor are we on our own as we attempt to make big sacrifices in Jesus’ name. Rather, (this is especially true in Luke’s gospel) Jesus has gifted us with the Holy Spirit who is ever ready to guide us more and more into a fuller response to the invitation each of us has heard through our baptism, “Come follow me.”