Disciples

Did you imagine that coming to church today would be a nice peaceful, comfortable experience?  That you would be sitting comfortably?  Well once again, as we listen to the outspoken Jesus of Luke’s Gospel, we find ourselves being disturbed and challenged about how we should live.  Isn’t that so often the case when Jesus gets to work!  We should never expect Church to be a comfortable place.

Being a disciple of Jesus is costly.  Who would have thought?  Today we find that deciding to follow Jesus is challenging, because even our families and our relationships can become idols if we put them before our relationship with Jesus Christ, which must have first place in our lives.  Always.  Above everything   Choosing to be a disciple of Jesus will take far greater commitment than just showing up on a Sunday morning for a fix of worship and liturgy. We might even have to look at the way we live during the week.  We might have to give up the things that preoccupy us; ego, power plays, tearing people down, positioning ourselves so that we can do well at the expense of others, manipulating situations for our own gain, or getting involved in malicious gossip.  And we might also have to spend time each day, quietly listening for the things Jesus is calling us to do.  Are we prepared for such a challenge?  Are we prepared to be uncomfortable?

Discipleship is demanding.  As we listen to Jesus’ words today, we hear that following him is not to be taken lightly or cheaply.  As St Paul wrote in the Epistle to the Philippians ‘Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but …..humbled himself, and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.’    There’s no cheap grace, and following Jesus most probably won’t be comfortable.

In peace, Mother Lynda

Gospel Reading: Luke 14:25-35