Image from agnusday.org
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ (Luke 9:51-62)
As we make disciples, we must train them to be ready to move ever forward and upward. We must counter the idea of comfort and complacency, both of which plague the modern church. This passage is a teaching passage on that very thing. Jesus was called for a mission and purpose and to that He dedicated Himself. He knew to keep moving forward and to do His work along the way, even moving steadily toward His death. He moves toward Jerusalem and enters a village where He is not welcome. The disciples, especially John, is ready to ask that fire from heaven come and destroy this village, but Jesus rebukes John and the disciples. As they come to another village they find those who have heard of Jesus and want to follow Him, but they have their conditions that they want met before they move onward. The first wants to make sure that he has a place to sleep. The second says, "I will go, but first there's a funeral I must attend." Jesus replies that the dead should bury the dead. The third says I must first say goodbye to all my family and friends. Jesus says, if you put your hand to the plow you can't look back.
Discipleship is an active, ever-moving endeavor. Discipleship is not about finding or seeking rest, it is about finding and making disciples. Discipleship is not an endeavor you put on hold while personal business is tended to; you must keep moving forward. Discipleship is not an endeavor that waits even for personal farewells to loved ones. It is like the farmer who is plowing, s/he must keep his/her eyes on the row being plowed to keep it straight and to make sure it is being done correctly. If you're ready, you should already be on the way!
PRAYER: Lord, help me to understand the demands of discipleship. I want to be faithful, ready, and already at work. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
