At the end of Luke chapter 9 we read the story about Jesus’ final approach to Jerusalem. On his way he meets three men who wish to follow him and he warns them that it will cost them dearly to do so. To the three he says, you will be homeless, your family will be left behind, and your past life must be forgotten. As you can imagine the three, who were once so certain, are now hesitant. This story is about commitment or the lack thereof. It is about Jesus “setting his face” and three men “turning their heads.”
We do well to remember the words of Martin Luther – “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.”
A guard in charge of a lighthouse along a dangerous coast was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the light burning every night. One day a woman asked for oil so that her children could stay warm. Then a farmer came. His son needed oil for a lamp so he could read. Another needed some for an engine. The guard saw each as a worthy request and gave some oil to satisfy all. By the end of the month, the tank in the lighthouse was dry. That night the beacon was dark and three ships crashed on the rocks. More than one hundred lives were lost. The lighthouse attendant explained what he had done and why. But the prosecutor replied, “You were given only one task: to keep the light burning. Every other thing was secondary. You have no excuse.”
Temptation is a choice between good and evil. But perhaps more insidious than temptation is conflict where one must choose between two good options. The lighthouse keeper in our story found himself in such a conflict situation. So also are the would-be disciples in today’s gospel story.
Perhaps the first task of each Christian is to discover God’s particular call for the individual – then set our face in the direction of that call.
For me that call is summed up in the two great commandments- “to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength – and love my neighbor as myself.” What about you? What is God’s call on your life?
Blessings
Reverend Shan