Readings for Proper 18C:
Luke 14:25-33; Psalm 1
September 9, 2007
The Rev. Karen Faye Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino, CA
Jesus said: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” [Luke 14] Today’s gospel headlines are: “Read the fine print. Uncommitted or part-time disciples need not apply!” Today I will address the cost of being a Christian and will use the gospel reading as my text.
When I was studying for a degree in environmental management, I was required to take a course in environmental economics. In this course, we counted the economic costs of doing business. In the manufacture of goods, there are significant costs to human health and the environment. Yet few companies factor in these costs when making and selling their products. Depletion of natural resources, degradation of air quality, hazardous waste generation, water pollution, and global warming are just some of the costs that need to be factored in, when doing business.
There is always a cost in doing anything. There’s a cost to being a Christian, a cost to being married and having children, a cost to going to war. One of the reasons that our society and the planet are in such a difficult position is that we don’t do a very good job in counting the full cost of our decisions before acting.
As we mark the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America, I have not forgotten the cost it has had on the national psyche and budget. I remember very clearly that morning of September 11th, 2001. I remember the urgent phone call to wake up and turn on the TV. As I watched the second plane crash into the twin tower, my first thought was: We are going to go to war. It was a painful thought that continues to this day. The cost of the war in Iraq has been high. These costs were significantly underestimated on the eve of March 18, 2003, the day before we began our offensive attack. The costs so far include:
Today, our nation is in a dilemma about what to do in regards to Iraq. Some say that we should bring our troops home, leaving the country of Iraq at risk of a massive civil war. Others say that we should stick it out and increase our troops at the risk of losing more American lives and the possibility of remaining there for many more years. Unfortunately, neither of these options will bring peace. Peace is not something that can be obtained by sending combat troops into action or calling them home. The best that can be accomplished is a cease-fire, or political agreements that tend to be very temporary in nature. It seems to me that if we are really seeking peace in the Middle East, then it needs to begin with us. For Christians, this means we need to follow in the steps of the Prince of Peace.
The good news is that the road to peace has been laid out for us already. It is not a military strategy or a political solution. It has to do with a total commitment to the spirit of Christ. So you might ask, if Christianity has been in business for almost 2000 years, then why isn’t there peace on earth? It is probably because most Christians are part-timers and lose their conviction when the demands get tough. After all, who wants to sacrifice one’s own safety, comfort, and privilege to engender peace on earth?
In today’s gospel Jesus is speaking to large crowds. At this point in his life, he seems to be pretty popular. After all, who wouldn’t want to follow this charismatic leader who has incredible gifts of healing, preaching, and teaching; one who isn’t afraid to challenge the powerful in defense of the poor and weak; one who is full of hope. Jesus warns the people, especially those anxious to join him as disciples, to consider first the demands of discipleship before signing on. Three of those demands are highlighted in the small section that we read today. These are known as the difficult sayings of Jesus.
The first demand says: “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” [Lk. 14] I remember years ago, a parishioner warned me not to preach on this gospel if I wanted to attract the Asian demographic of Cupertino. But here it is in black and white and we have to deal with it. Based on Jesus’ love ethic, to hate (in this context) is not about anger or hostility. But it does mean that the demands of the gospel always take precedence over family obligations and preferences. It means that our immediate family should not be at the center of the universe. Only God is to be at the center. It means that my circle of concern should not stop with my immediate family but must extend outward to all those in need.
Two central claims of the Christian faith are crucial: 1) Every person is a child of God and thus is of infinite worth. 2) And because we are all children of God, we are related to one another and need to care for each another with the same concern as those in our immediate family. There will not be peace on earth until all people are treated with dignity and justice. Thus, the safely and comfort of my own family cannot come at a cost that degrades the human dignity of people in other parts of the world.
The second demand is this: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” The cross is a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. Carrying the cross is a call to imitate Jesus in his mission of truth, mercy, peace, and love. Carrying the cross is a call to sacrifice our own well-being and suffer any consequences in the pursuit of justice. This demand is very hard for me. While I can sacrifice some comforts, I really dislike suffering. But Jesus is not asking us to suffer for suffering sake. Suffering may come when we take risks and move forward in the face of danger for the sake of the gospel. Yes, even danger to our own lives.
Some Christians forgot about carrying the cross when the United States was attacked on September 11th, 2001. Many folks couldn’t wait to retaliate even though we weren’t even sure who was responsible for the attacks. An eye-for-an-eye is not the ethic that Jesus taught us. Nowhere does Jesus teach that we should compromise our moral conduct based on the actions and beliefs of our enemies. So what should we do to protect our country from danger? “In a sinful world, some of us may hold that here may be times when war is a necessary evil. But Christians should never identify violence against others with the will of God and should always work to prevent it.” (NCC)
The third demand challenges our materialism, our obsession with things. Jesus says: “Give up all your possessions.” The word to “give up” is literally, “say farewell to.” We have come to the point in American culture when the accumulation of things has become a central focus in our lives. When it comes to wanting things, buying things, storing things, coveting things, and throwing things away, the teachings of Jesus and the values of middle-class America couldn’t be further apart. Where I live at Parish Place, there are many homeowners who have so much stuff that they can’t park their cars in their garage. In response to this situation, the homeowners association changed its rules and now allows homeowners to park their cars in the visitors parking. Has anyone ever thought about encouraging people to stop buying things rather than make accommodations to support their excessive compulsion to accumulate more?
Our relationship with things has become very unhealthy. We want more, bigger, better, and cheaper even if it means the environment becomes polluted, the garbage dumps overflow, the oil reserves are depleted, and the third-world labor force has to work 16 hours per day for less than $1.00. The increasing divide between the haves and the have-nots does not make for peace. It is no wonder that some Islamic folks have accused Western Christians of idolatry, worshiping the golden calf-the almighty buck. Abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance. And the willingness to give up what is most precious, in order to serve God more fully, is what Jesus is speaking about in this demand.
So what do we do? Quit our jobs, sell our homes, and live on the streets? St. Francis and his monks tried but after two decades, most of his monks just couldn’t live that kind of life. However, that doesn’t mean that living a luxurious life style is the answer, especially when it negatively impacts 90% of the world’s population. The natural biological drive for human beings is for food, shelter, relationships, and protecting the species. How did we move from these basic biological needs to wanting Humvees, 50 inch plasma screens, and 20 minute showers? There is a wide chasm between our basic needs and our insatiable desires that keep us from fully serving God. It seems that Madison Avenue has more influence on us than our own baptismal covenant. Today’s gospel reminds us of what is important for abundant life and thus peace. “Happy are they who delight in the law of the Lord.” [Ps.1]
| Updated September 8, 2007 |
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