"No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
The readings in these weeks of early summer seem to be inviting us to consider how and why we follow Jesus. He is very clear that it is not easy to follow his path. Last week, he told us that we must deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily. This week, he invites us to make a decision to follow him whole-heartedly or not at all.
When I was a young child, I remember my mother listening and singing to songs on the radio. One of the songs was, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometimes." I think in the gospel reading today, Jesus is reminding us that he never promised us a rose garden and that there will be a little rain sometimes.
It does sometimes feels good to follow Jesus, like a relaxed walk through a fragrant rose garden. When we do good for others, we are filled with love and joy. While serving at a mission or soup kitchen may be difficult work and a challenge to serve those who don't look or smell too good, we are filled with joy by the smiles and "Thank you's" from those we are serving. While being a parent or grandparent can be exhausting, changing diapers and chasing little ones around all day and directing them to learn what is good, we are filled with contentment when they are snuggled up sleeping on our chests or in their beds.
Other times, however, it's not so easy to follow Jesus. We feel the thorns of the roses jabbing into our hearts. When an adult child is making the wrong decisions and while we want to shake them and tell them what to do, we know that they need to make their own mistakes and learn for themselves. When a loved one is suffering from pain or illness, growing nearer to death, we cry out to God for their relief only to hear God's silence. When life at work is a struggle and co-workers are irritable and edgy, we long for peace only to be faced with having to make difficult decisions in order to keep the company in business or close the doors.
In all of our suffering, though, we can draw comfort from Jesus. He suffered along with us. He had no place to rest his head. He was not welcomed in villages, turned away in hunger and exhaustion. He cried out to his Father in Gethsemane to "let this cup pass me by," but ultimately accepted that God's will should be done despite his own wishes. He allowed himself to be whipped and scorned and nailed to a cross, suffocating in agony to his death.
Following Jesus is not a walk in a rose garden. If we commit ourselves to following Jesus, we will experience hardships and pain and seemingly unbearable agony. Despite the thorns, though, we have the promise of Jesus' Resurrection to give us hope and see us through. Sometimes the thorniest roses have the most beautiful petals. If we are willing to commit to following Jesus, we will put our hands to the plow and not look back, but instead look forward with hope to eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Faith Chat Questions:
Adults/Youth: Sometimes we are like the people in the gospel reading who had excuses as to why they couldn't follow Jesus completely. What makes it difficult for you to follow Jesus? Why do you follow Jesus even though it's hard?
Children: Following Jesus means doing what is right and good. How have you followed Jesus this week by doing what is right and good?
Faith Response:Play a game of "Follow Jesus" (Follow the Leader) or "Jesus Says" (Simon Says). After playing the game, affirm one another by talking about the ways that you see each other doing things that Jesus would do, like giving a cold drink to a hot and thirsty family member, helping to fold clothes, emptying the dishwasher to help Mom or Dad, or playing a game with a younger sibling.
Pray: Christ Jesus, Son of Man, you call us to follow you, but it isn't always easy. Give us the courage and strength to live according to your example in all that we do and say. Amen.
