Sermon: Discipleship Now!

Trinity 2 (Year B)

Wakefield Cathedral, 30th June 2019

 

I have often lamented the fact that we don’t have more Old Testament readings. They are offered to us in the lectionary, during our Sunday worship, but we normally hear just the New Testament. This changes during the penitential seasons of Lent and Advent, when we hear prophecy and its fulfilment in Jesus. Well, at the moment, we are enjoying the fruits of wise deliberations amongst our clergy, so I am led to believe, currently with a cycle of readings from the Books of Kings.

Today we are once more with Elijah, who, knowing his time was up, was on a farewell tour of the prophetic communities that he knew so well – in Gilgal, Bethel and the Jordan. This is a journey narrative and Elijah has a travelling companion – Elisha.

Now Elisha is concerned about the inevitable parting from his master, and yet is hopeful of adopting Elijah’s mantle and power, to continue his prophetic works. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, the portion of such an inheritance normally gifted to the firstborn son, a considerable request. When Elisha is told to “stay” he disobeys, wanting to remain alongside Elijah, with the other prophets. There is a resoluteness here; there is learning, faith and witness in these words. Elisha knows there is work to do and Elijah tells him that by seeking his power he is asking a “hard thing” of him – the work and life of a prophet is not easy and Elisha will be challenged.

It becomes clear, then, that spiritual gifts, with which to serve God, are only bestowed on those whose lives are focused on the task in hand, who seek out God and act as His messengers and His servants.

With a remarkable and inscrutable power, and a fierce faithfulness to God, Elijah is regarded as the epitome of ‘prophecy’, in ways akin to Moses being the quintessential giver of the ‘Law’. In this passage, he is taken up by God – ascended – into the whirlwind on chariots of fire, indicating that he doesn’t die but continues on in some way. And thus Elijah is projected into a possible future for Israel, who may come again, in a form of pre-messianic narrative.

Then in Luke’s Gospel we encounter Jesus, resolute on His journey to Jerusalem, and also with companions who find themselves at odds with the core of their Masters’ ministry.

Before we go any further, it is worthwhile to consider what else has happened prior to this episode. What is Luke trying to convey to us through this story?

So, previously in this chapter, we have had:

The twelve being given authority, for healing, curing and casting out (9:1-6);

We hear of the the challenging reality of becoming a follower – “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (9:23);

Then we have the Transfiguration – a scene of great mystery, on top of a mountain – and we encounter Elijah once more, with Moses – connecting the past and the present – The Christ, with the Law and the Prophets – with God the Father validating the Son that all might listen to him (9:28-36);

And yet they are not listening to Him: “Listen carefully to me”, He says …. I shall be handed over….. its all going to very real and very harsh….. And they still argue amongst themselves about who is the greatest! (9:46-47)

He even shows them what to do – that by welcoming a child, they welcome Him! (9:48)

And then today, on the road to Jerusalem, in the region of Samaria, there is no welcome and, in an echo of Elijah testing the believers of Baal, His followers seek to call down fire upon this village…..

And Jesus rebukes them……

Well you couldn’t blame Him, could you?

They followed, and did what He asked and knew they had a mission…. But they just didn’t seem to “get” Him, did they? After all He has said and shown them, in this portion of scripture alone, and yet they still cannot see what they have signed up for!

Of course, that begs the question: do we? Do we know?

The final part of this chapter, from todays reading, often seems familiar to us but needs a little unpacking. Jesus encounters potential followers. They do not really know what following means. Jesus challenges this.

The first one offers his service without being called, having no real idea about what Jesus is about. Maybe he has just seen Jesus “in action” and is inspired to follow….. we don’t know. Jesus makes clear that such an offer must be understood in the reality of His own life – one of self-sacrifice, living a socially deviant existence, away from the comforts of home – on the margins. Look at the people he associates with?

Jesus then places Himself at odds with the Law when He invites another follower, who then pleads his need to obey the legal ordinances of burying the dead. Jesus isn’t showing a lack of compassion with someone mourning a loved one, He is challenging a blind adherence to Mosaic Law, which is perceived as having more value and importance than the needs of the poor, the blind, the lost…… the needs of the Kingdom…. God’s Kingdom. Jesus is clearly in opposition to such a situation, and He speaks with authority. Yet if the Law proves to be a barrier to the call of Jesus to follow Him, what then must one do?

And then the one who offers support but wants to attend to family and home-life matters first, as if he has it all mapped out, on his own terms! “Let me just go and do this thing….then I will follow you”. Jesus is sometimes portrayed as having a fairly ‘loose’ relationship with His own family. And yet we are also aware of His great love for them, in particular for His mother. Here Jesus is pushing against the conventions of the day, yet he challenges this man more on his unwillingness to say “yes” without counting the cost – choosing instead to turn back – doing the whole discipleship thing some other time! Does this sound familiar?

These moments in time, with Jesus, demonstrate the irresistible nature of His call, the urgency of His mission – the exhortation to proclaim the kingdom of God immediately. Jesus doesn’t diminish or disregard the realisms and sensitivities of human existence, but His focus is resolute – His gaze is fixed on Jerusalem – He knows that NOW is the time.

There is a connection between these portions of scripture and we can see just how essential it is for us to hear them together. And why? Because they speak to us of our own journey with God, and the daily call to discipleship. Jesus calls us to follow Him in this age, and these passages reveal to us the the challenge of such a life and the need to know what that call means – the easy temptations to turn aside – and the sacrifices that may have to be made.

There is perhaps a temptation, an arrogance even, to offer a prescriptive ’solution’ to being a disciple of Jesus. None of us have definitive answers for the “how” of discipleship. I certainly don’t!

We have all witnessed many incredible people demonstrating life-affirming and selfless acts of love and mission, for the good of humanity and the world – often with faith as the catalyst and driving force. Can we be like them? Maybe…..

Yet, what about the everyday? How is discipleship strengthened, understood and lived out in our daily lives?

And what about those who struggle to live authentic lives of discipleship because of persecution and violence?

One thing is very clear! We are not “THE DISCIPLES”, “THE TWELVE”….. alongside Jesus in his ministry on earth, pulled from fishing boat and tax booth….. hearing his living voice, watching Him heal and raise up….. and yet still missing the point. They were faithful and did their best to understand and to live this new edgy, difficult life. They had the best of teachers….. in the flesh!

We are “post-resurrection believers”! We have the benefits of two thousand years of prayer and learning, and the telling of others about Him, and yet even that doesn’t make us instant disciples, able to build the Kingdom without issue or effort! Ha!

How do we get there? How have we borne witness to our own journeys with God – and one another’s – conscious of our efforts and failings, aware of the presence of Jesus, yet struggling with the world and its distractions and trials?

Much has been said and written on this. Rowan Williams speaks of there needing to be a sense of watching and waiting, of perception through our eyes and ears – of being present and ‘abiding’ in Jesus – with an expectancy that God will act (maybe through me, or you) – a state of awareness and readiness.

Asking – what next?

When I was younger I knew I was called to something. My parents lived lives of service and, living in a vicarage, my most clear model of being a follower of Jesus was as a priest. Later, as I began to explore a vocation, I became more aware of what was going on in me.

In my prayers I asked for some direction and a sense of the purpose that God had for me – what was it? What did God want me to do? Very slowly, and when I eventually developed the language for such things, I realised that some formation of discipleship was taking place.

Over the years this road has been hard. It has at times seemed both futile and a blessing. Ask any of those ordained here yesterday and they will surely tell you of similar journeys of uncertainty, from time to time.

My journey continued although the road that I travelled changed considerably. In time, my awareness has sharpened and my expectancy of God’s purpose in me, and in the world, has come into focus. I have listened. I have looked. For me, now, this ministry is a big part of my discipleship, but not all of it……

Lukes Gospel indicates that, as Christian Disciples, we are called to welcome everyone into the Kingdom, leaving no one out, not making the distinctions that the world makes, but committed to respect and dignity, and doing so out of a reverence for God in whose image each one of us is made.

I don’t need to be a lay minister to do that. And neither do you. Listen. Watch and wait…. Know that God is moving in you, wanting you to follow Jesus and make whatever difference you can. Daily.

There is much to do.

To be honest, much of the time we are not overly challenged with this. Some people chose a more disruptive and faith-affirming life to offer their discipleship, or maybe have it thrust upon them.

Many, like our brothers and sisters from Iran and elsewhere, find that they must give up all they have to follow Jesus, in fear of their lives.

We all walk our own journey with God. And yet we are not alone. Maybe we imagine that we have only our own relationship with God to worry about. And yet we walk with each other. We have a shared discipleship of community – family, school, work…. Yes, even church!

Now, whilst we pray, or during the eucharist, look around you and see your sisters and your brothers. They, like you, get distracted and pulled away from following the Master. How will you help them stay true, and help build that awareness and readiness in them? How will you ask for help when you struggle with this? Let’s face it, discipleship isn’t easy – staying focused and present with God in building the Kingdom is not without a daily challenge – and there will be times of dryness, persecution and failure.

The Kingdom comes first. That is what marks us out as Christians, as true followers and disciples of Jesus. He asks – even commands – that we place the values that He espouses before our own needs and wants. We know it won’t be easy, we have been told so, and yes, we know so from our own experiences. There can be no turning back. We are called to a life of Christian service – not for a season, or a moment – turning up when we feel like it – it’s a life long commitment.

But how will we persevere?

Remain faithful in prayer, in communion with one another and in sacrament, thus being in Communion in the Body, and sharing with, and being supportive of others. Pay attention to the world around you and those in need. Speak up when you think no one else will. Challenge injustice and the darkness of the soul that we see in our social, political and economic systems. Listen for the Living Word of God… and endeavour to be the Gospel that others must hear.

Do it in this life. Do it today. Do it now.

And I leave you with the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer – German theologian, executed for his resistance to the Nazi regime, in 1945:

“And if we answer the call to discipleship, where will it lead us? What decisions and partings will it demand? To answer this question we shall have to go to him, for only he knows the answer. Only Jesus Christ, who bids us follow him, knows the journey’s end. But we do know that it will be a road of boundless mercy. Discipleship means joy.” (43)

Amen

Ⓒ Simon Beresford 2019

 

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