Sermons

Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 9th September at 10am

Lesley Ashton
Readings: Luke 14.25-33

One sermon I remember well was preached by a northern bishop some 10 years ago. He told the story about one of his more sycophantic clergy who insisted on telling him each time they met, how much growth his church was experiencing and wondering how, if this things was the pattern for the future, he was going to be able to make room for the multitudes. The Bishop's dry response was. Go and preach the gospel to them and you'll soon get rid of a few!'

We have in this morning's gospel a comparable situation there is a large crowd following Jesus. He is actually on his to way Jerusalem; we read in chapter 9 that he has set his face resolutely towards Jerusalem, he is on a journey towards the cross. Why then are the crowds following him? The cross is the place where the crowds scatter for it is the place of death and abandonment.

Perhaps they see him as someone on whom they can pin their political hopes, perhaps they have witnessed his miracles and want to experience more of his healing and works of wonder, maybe they are pulled along by the crowd wanting to be part of something new and exciting. Jesus needs to bring them up short and tell them that there is a cost to following him and being his disciple. Firstly they have to love Jesus more than their father or mother, brothers or sisters, wives or children and themselves as well; they have to carry their own cross and follow him.

The interpretation we have in the Church bible is actually quite lukewarm in comparison with other translations, the NRSV version reads whoever comes to me and does not hate father mother, wife children and brothers and sisters, yes and even life itself cannot be my disciple. We are not told how many turned back because the cost was too high or how many grumbled or became disillusioned once the price of discipleship was stated so bluntly.

Now the meaning of what Jesus is saying need unpacking a little further. The Greek word (miseo) translated as 'hate' is used in many bible passages, not to convey the meaning of extreme dislike or loathing but simply to convey a lesser form of love. It is a comparative term rather than an opposite.

Furthermore there are many bible passages that urge us to promote good family relationships; we are called to love our enemies, so surely our families as well and we are all aware of how Jesus provided for his own mother's future needs when he was dying on the Cross.

What I believe Jesus is saying is that our love for him must be first and foremost. It must come before our families, it must come before ourselves, it must come before our possessions, before our comfort, before our security. Not because any of these things are bad in themselves but because they can get in the way of us serving God with our whole lives and hearts.

So are we let off the hook? Is the cost of discipleship not quite as demanding as Jesus is making out?

I think that sometimes there can be the danger that when we speak about the good news of Jesus Christ, we share only those bits of the gospel that appear to be good news, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the grace, love and mercy of God, the incarnation of Christ. These are indeed good news and they are part of what we delight and share in as followers of Christ. But walking in the footsteps of Christ is also costly and demanding., in the words of Jesus 'none of you can be my disciples unless you give up everything you have.'

Jesus compares discipleship to building a tower, if the person building does not sit down and work out what it will cost then they will become a laughing stock because they are unable to finish the job. The foundations are laid but no further progress can be made. It's a bit like being baptised and having the party but never going on to grow and be confirmed in the faith. The foundations are in place but no progress in spiritual growth can be made, not because the bricks aren't there to put in place but because the cost of the bricks is more than we have been prepared to pay.

And the irony is that the more we have, the more we have to give up, those of us who live with plenty find it harder to sit lightly with the things we have than those who have less. We often speak about how we should help the poor, how we should tend the weak and oppressed and yes of course we should and we must. What we seldom remember is that they have much to teach us about learning how to live with sufficient rather than excess, to live for each day rather than being concerned about the years ahead, of simple trust and faith in God rather than in the health of our bank balance.

Costly discipleship lies at the heart of our Christian faith; we cannot get away from it, because if we walk in the footsteps of Christ then there is no other way. The collect for the third Sunday in Lent says it all.

'Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified; mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross may find it none other than the way of life and peace.'

One of the most extraordinary things about the Christian faith it's paradoxical nature. The collect gives us the clue. That the costs of walking in the way of the cross also shows to us the way of life and peace. What we give up God gives us back a hundredfold not necessarily in material ways, but through us knowing real peace and the joy of life. When we love Christ first and foremost then the way we love our family and our friends is with a love that is Christ shaped and which draws upon his infinite love and compassion.

I am sure that what pertains to us individually also speaks to us as a church, Christ's body here on earth called to serve him One of the marks of a healthy church which I shared with you last month is that a healthy church faces the cost of change and growth and another is that it seeks to find out what God wants.

Our response to what God wants may be costly to us as a church if we are to serve God well in this area.

I have encouraged you over the last month or so to express your views about the future of St Ed's and about what qualities and skills the new incumbent might have.

Can I encourage you also to think about what God might be asking of you in the months and years ahead, it may involve a cost but please do think and pray about it.

Can I also encourage you to be open as a church to costly discipleship, willing to let go of the familiar, those things we hold dear to our hearts and ready to take risks and try new things in order for others to know the good news about Christ. May we sit lightly to our buildings. the way we use this space, our liturgy, our familiar services, enjoying and loving them but also being willing to let go or to change if that is what God requires of us.

Jesus knew suffering before he knew joy; he was crucified before he entered into glory. The way to joy and glory has already been marked out for us, may we have the courage and faith to follow in Christ's steps. Amen

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay