Jesus is not a sound byte

Luke 14:25-33 

Just saying right now that Jesus could in no way run for political office here in the US in the 21^st century—in one fell swoop, he just threw away any credibility to espousing family values.  And that is precisely the point, Jesus is not running for public office; he is not trying to figure out how to convince us or persuade us (read manipulate us) into buying into a bunch of sound bytes that will close the deal without giving us the full story—the full picture of what choosing Jesus will entail—the costs and the benefits.  He is not telling us partial truths and glossing over reality, not telling us what we want to hear, and definitely not pulling a switch and bait—no in today’s Gospel Jesus is laying it out completely—all the costs and yet also begging us to choose him because in choosing him we are indeed choosing life.  But it does come with a cost, a discipline, a choice.

                Earlier this summer I was desperately trying to get back into an exercise regiment once I could run again.  I don’t know why it’s so easy to get out of shape and so hard to get back in—so I was struggling and in my frustration (I can be a little competitive even with myself) I was not completely committed.  In the mornings I would come up with lots of excuses—good excuses about why I couldn’t exercise; I needed to get to work earlier and didn’t have time; it was too hot; too rainy, one time I even said too cold.  A friend was also struggling and she decided to take action.  She formed a group 100 miles in 100 days and we each pledged to either walk or run at least 1 mile every day for 100 days—no excuses.   I made a choice—a choice that requires a commitment, a discipline, a choice, an intentional plan every single day.

        God is asking us to make a choice that requires a commitment and a cost every day—it’s not the simple choice on whether or not to get up and go to church on Sunday—that’s the sound byte; it’s a choice to say yes to Jesus guiding our every thought, word, and action—every day and in all we do.  We are being asked to make a decision to be a disciple of Jesus even when that choice brings us into conflict with those we love most dearly—our family and friends; a choice that may bring us into conflict with those with whom we work, go to school , and with our neighbors.  It is a choice to continue to follow the example of Jesus even when it puts us on the outside of our comfort zone; on the outside of the popular way of life.

        By making this commitment, we are also saying yes to paying attention—to paying attention to where the world seems broken and to being a part of the healing grace of God.  Sometimes these times are obvious, but sometimes not so much.  Often these times come up with those we know, love, and respect are centered around what we call the hot button issues--social issues such as sexuality, racism, sexism, health care etc.  And often it’s not overt and so we are called to pay attention and to make a choice. Do we speak up against our friend, do we challenge the actions of our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, do we risk division of a friendship?

In the end for most of us, these decisions will not mean that we shun people when we disagree about a social issue nor will we take it upon ourselves to reign down God’s fiery judgment because we think the other is deliberately and cruelly making choices to bring harm or making severe errors in judgment, rather the choice is whether or not we allow these relationship to ultimately trump what and how Christ is calling us to be with each other and in the world.

        As strong as the language in today’s Gospel is, nowhere in it does it say become people of judgment—get in people’s face, judge, condemn—do whatever you have to to win—to cram your way of thinking down everyone  else’s throats.  Frankly that is dangerous—many times the one with whom we disagree may be in fact also be living their lives in a way they believe to be a committed life to Christ.  They may be as sure in their belief as we are in ours—a good time for dialogue, for discernment, for conversation that may open us all to hear something new.  Jesus is asking us each to make a personal choice and to live our lives fully and completely committed to him-- to live a life of love, and grace and openness, and forgiveness, and mercy.  We are not alone—we couldn’t do it alone, but “Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.”

        This is not a political ad, a sound byte.  It cannot be because being a disciple of Jesus means there are no separations—we don’t separate church and state or work and play in our lives—it is one life lived completely in thought word and deed completely and totally committed to God.  An integrated life lived with costs but oh the benefits—God is begging us to say yes.