Sermon: “A follower or a Disciple.”
‘Did Jesus really say that?’
Surely, he did not mean that I have to give up all my possessions: my beloved books, my soft sofa, my precious dresses and shoes, my salary, my pension, my entire safety and livelihood?
“Did Jesus really say that and mean that?’
Surely, he did not mean that we have to hate our families, our mothers and fathers, our sisters and brothers – everyone that we love and care for.
The Gospel reading today from Luke almost make us think “Gospel – Good News”, well it certainly doest seem to be good news or a loving Gospel from the man who said that we should love our God and our neighbor as ourselves, yes even stretch the love to our enemies and prosecutors.
What is this talk about hate from a man who was the walking symbol of love, compassion and commitment?
Reading this text again…. And trying to prepare a Sermon of Good News on these harsh words, made me think about all that I possess and love:
I love my late mother and my aging father, I love my sisters, my brothers-in-law, my nieces and nephews. And I do love beyond words our sons and my husband. My family is my love and my life – for better and worse. And today Jesus tells me that I have to hate them to be his disciple?
And I looked around in our house:
· all the shelves of beloved books, read and cherished, tucked in the shelves but also in my memory and heart.
· all the furniture collected through time, most of the pieces with a history.
· all of the art on the walls that I cherish as fine memories, as family treasures and testaments of love of art, beauty and storytelling.
· All of the photographs of our sons, of family reunions and celebrations, of dear friends and heartfelt moments in my life.
Jesus even said that I should hate life itself to be his disciple, but I don’t hate life and I don’t want to hate life: I love my life, I cling to it, I protect it, I am grateful for it – I certainly do not hate it.
Surely, Jesus did not mean my books, my art, my furniture, my accumulated life, yes life itself?
Maybe Jesus just had a bad day?
With a large crowd following him everywhere, pushing, pulling and showing, eager to touch him and maybe Jesus was just tired of all of these people wanting something from him… for free…. And he had to push them away and remind them that Faith and Discipleship has a cost.
As our bishop said in our zoom meeting this week reflecting on this text, Jesus certainly had not attended any seminars about church growth, stewardship or being a welcoming church. He was not promising everyone prosperity, happiness and joy, but hardship, loneliness, cross and burdens to bear.
“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children……… yes even life itself,’ Jesus said – ‘cannot be my disciple.’ We have been listening to and reading the New Revised Standard Version Bible. So, I try to pull up another translation – “The Message’ by Eugene Peterson.
25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who will not shoulder his own cross and follows behind me cannot be my disciple.
33 “Simply put, if you are not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you cannot be my disciple.
Well, it is another translation and version of the Gospel with slightly different words and reflections, but still the same meaning.
Anyone who refuses to, is unwilling to let go of plans and people, what is dearest to you – cannot be my disciple.
And then we ask today: but who can be a disciple then? Are we disciples or just followers?
I am always in awe and deep profound gratitude when I read about disciples who truly did leave everything behind and paid the highest price for their faith.
Dietrich Bonhoeffe born 1906 and died 1945 was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian and his writings on Christianity’s role in a secular world have become widely influential. His 1937 book ‘The Cost of Discipleship” is a modern classic. Apart from his pastoral and theological teaching, he was a staunch critique of the Nazi Regime and their persecution of Jews. He was arrest in April 1943, imprisoned and transferred to Flossenbürg concentration camp. Bonhoeffer was accused of being associated with the 20 July plot to assassinated Hitler and was hanged on April 9, 1945, during the collapse of the Nazi regime. He was a disciple of Christ who paid the highest price.
In the same line I am amazed by the story of the Danish Lutheran pastor Kaj Munk, who also risked his life and his family, whom he loved dearly, for the truth – he fought the Nazi in his preaching, in his writings, in his plays.
The Gestapo arrested Munk on the night of 4 January 1944, a month after he had defied a Nazi ban and preached the first Advent sermon at the national cathedral in Copenhagen. Munk's body was found in a roadside ditch in rural Hørbylunde near Silkeborg the next morning. He was a true disciple.
Florence Nightingale, a nurse, social reformer, who during the Crimean War cared for the wounded soldiers. She gained the nickname “The lady with the Lamp’ from a writing in the Times. She is a "ministering angel" without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow's face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.
All though she suffered much through her life, witnessing horrific wounds and unimaginable suffering, herself ill and depressed, Florence Nightingale died peacefully in her sleep 13 August 1910, at the age of 90.
Her discipleship and service shown in her saying:
‘God called me in the morning and asked me would I do good for him alone, without reputation?
Nightingale, Munk and Bonhoeffer gave all – they let go of their families and plans, their possessions and security – and became remarkable disciple of Christ.
How can we even call ourselves disciples in comparison?
How do we give our all, carry the cross and leave our families behind… how can we… and should we?
I am sure that many in the crowds were as shocked as we are when they heard the words about hate, giving up and letting go of your loved ones and your beloved belongings.
Maybe we cannot all be disciples like Peter and Paul, Bonhoeffer and Munk, - maybe less can do and will have to do?
Maybe we can all be hopeful followers of Christ, believing in his compassion, his commitment, his sacrifice – and believing that his life, his death, his sacrifice set us free to serve as we can.
Saints and Sinners. With halos and horns. With faithfulness and faults. As humans who try our best to follow, to learn, to do better, to trust in God.
We cannot all be like Peter and Paul Bonhoeffer and Munk, but we can be believers and followers.
Jesus told a story about us. And about how we might not think of ourselves as the grand disciple of change and opposition – but more like humble servants who does not always realize the great things we are doing.
‘For I was hungry, and you gave me food,
I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger, and you welcome me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you took care of me, I was in prison, and you visited me…. Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, did you do it to me?
Did Jesus really say that?
That these small acts of kindness, planned or random, these small simple acts of compassion and care – that they are indeed remarkable in the eyes of God?
That these small acts of kindness, goodness and beauty in a cruel world are what sets us apart as carrier of the cross and followers of Jesus. We might not be able to leave everything behind, we might not be able to change the world through courageous actions, - but we are called to be in the world as messengers of hope, as carriers of burdens and believers in the cross.
Did Jesus really say that…. Yes he did. Not because he had a bad day, but because the world needs courageous disciples but even more needs courageous compassionate followers to stay in our families, in our communities, in our small circles of friends or among the single stranger.
For we are called to act with justice.
we are called to love tenderly.
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.