LEAP OF FAITH
Luke 9:51-62
The Leap of Faith is an outdoor activity at Camp Johnsonburg. Think Presbyterian camp meets Outward Bound. There is a long guide wire that is attached to two trees, one end to a tree high up on a mountain or hill, depending on who you asked, the other end securely fastened to a tree much lower to ground level. All connections are checked daily. Someone asked. The idea is to climb the mountain (hill) and while safely harnessed and attached to the guide wire, to propel yourself off the platform and take the ride down.
Along with others from the church, I had the opportunity to participate in this activity a few weeks ago during the all church retreat, immediately after Tommy, our eight-year old guinea pig, I mean son, took his turn. It looked fun as we approached the area, and even while watching others take their leap. Then a bit of anxiety started bubbling up for me as I got strapped into the harness, and the reality of it settled in. "Oh," I thought to myself, "I'm really going to do this!" My heart beat faster on the walk up to the platform. Soon after, I was attached to the guide wire, given the green light, and it was my turn, my turn to take the leap of faith. In that moment I felt a mixture of fear, anxiety, and anticipation along with a sense of strength from everyone's supportive advice and cheers. I stepped off the platform, pleading silently with the whole contraption to work, and sailed down. My description of the experience: terrifying then exhilarating. It was definitely a trip out of my everyday comfort zone.
In today's scripture from Luke, I believe we are all being invited by Jesus to step out of our comfort zones, to somehow take our spiritual lives off cruise control and reexamine what it means to call ourselves Christian. Jesus says, "Follow me," 22 times in the New Testament, a command he repeats more often than any other, but what is he looking for? What does that look like? We'll explore this morning two ways that Jesus is inviting us to consider as followers: through calls for tolerance and discernment.
First, I'd like to share a little bit of information about the writer of this scripture, gleaned from a book called The Gospel of Luke by William Barclay. Luke was the only non-Jewish New Testament writer and wrote this account of Jesus' life for Theophilus, another gentile. Luke was a doctor and legend has it that he was also a skilled painter. He was a trusted companion of Paul and in fact spent two years imprisoned with him in Caesarea. An interesting person to have had a cup of coffee with, I imagine. His gospel is often referred to as the universal gospel, with a focus on Jesus' willingness to break down barriers and minister to one and all, regardless of ethnicity, sex, class standing or other separating categories.
At the beginning of today's scripture, Jesus has begun his journey from ministry in Galilee to his awaited fate in Jerusalem. Jesus and his followers took the direct route from Galilee to Jerusalem through Samaria. Most other traveling Jews avoided that route because of longstanding hostility and violence between themselves and the Samaritans. But Jesus intentionally entered into enemy territory, seeking a place to rest there during his journey. The group was not welcomed, much like what might evolve in areas like the Middle East today where longstanding conflict between groups exists. The disciples James and John then asked Jesus if he wanted them to invoke a divine fire to torch the city as punishment for their lack of hospitality. Jesus wouldn't permit it and they moved on.
Jesus seems to be calling out for tolerance and lack of judgment here, from his disciples with him then and from those following him now, asking for us to not only soften the edges around our judgments of others, but to do nothing less than erase them. It's good to remember that each one of us walking on this earth is unique. No one else has ever walked exactly in another's shoes, carrying their personal experiences, memories, their lens through which they view the world. Given that, perhaps we're being called to step out of the comfort zone of our reality and into the reality of others' lives who may be different, humbly acknowledging that our way is not the only way. We're being invited to give others the benefit of the doubt, to suspend judgment, and to take a naive leap to compassion and empathy. I'm reminded of a story that Stephen Covey talks about in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
He tells the story of a subway ride he took one Sunday morning in New York City. People were sitting quietly doing their own thing. A man and his children entered the subway car and his kids were loud and rambunctious. The man sat down next to Covey and closed his eyes, seemingly oblivious to the chaos his kids were causing. Covey and others in the subway felt a growing sense of aggravation that this father didn't discipline his children. So Covey turned to him and said, "Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn't control them a little more?" The man lifted his gaze and said softly, "Oh, you're right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died an hour ago. I don't know what to think, and I guess they don't know how to handle it either." Suddenly Covey felt a wave of compassion and reached out to this grieving father.
In a similar way, can we try to tolerate attitudes and behaviors that are different than what we deem acceptable or appropriate? We don't always understand the challenges people are living with, what motivates them, the culture they live in. When someone is loud or soft, aggressive or meek, exuberant or shy, whatever it is we encounter in our days that is "other," can we pause for a moment to suspend judgment, try to see where they're coming from, and perhaps even reach out? It may seem like a tall order but as Jesus showed tolerance again and again throughout his ministry, with an openness to people who were "other," we as disciples would do well to follow his lead. Even if we already consider ourselves tolerant people, are there places and ways we could be even more so? Jesus is inviting us into that space.
In the second part of the scripture we find Jesus, continuing his journey to Jerusalem and interacting with three would-be followers. I have to admit, the Jesus I met when first reading this part of the scripture, didn't seem particularly Christ-like. In fact, he seemed a bit cryptic and rude. The first person approached him saying, "I will follow you, wherever you go." It seems to be a resounding and enthusiastic vote of support. And Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." I imagine this person with a quizzical look on their face, thinking, "Huh?" Jesus engaged the second person, saying simply, "Follow me." The follower said, "Let me go and bury my father," possibly meaning that his father wasn't well, but perhaps also meaning that he wanted to take care of his family obligations first. Jesus answered, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." I imagine this man, also with a quizzical expression, thinking, "But I have some family matters to take care of first." Lastly, the third person said basically, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to those at my home." Jesus responded with imagery of a plough saying, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." A third quizzical look, perhaps this man was thinking, "Well, okay about that, but you didn't answer my question."
What is Jesus asking of these people who all seem at first glance to be willing disciples? He doesn't take a gentle approach with them and seems to be making radical demands if they truly want to follow him. It's a bit unsettling and different than the warm and compassionate, open-armed image of Christ I often think of. He seems to be asking for nothing less than complete devotion and a willingness to step out into the unknown tethered only by faith to him and to God. In replying to the first follower about fox holes and birds' nests, Jesus suggests that even these animals have homes, however impermanent, but not the Son of Man who is a constant traveler, nor us if we follow him. In saying, "Let the dead bury the dead, you go proclaim the word of God," to the second follower, Jesus wants him to leave everything, now, and spread the word of God. To the third, in evoking imagery of a plough, Jesus seems to be saying, walk with me here and now. Forget about the past. If you look back you can't plough straight. Focus on where you're plowing now, on the immediate tasks of discipleship.
So does it mean to be a true Christian disciple we have to give up our home, leave family and friends, and plough ahead, focused only on the here and now? Talk about leaps of faith! This is not only stepping out of your comfort zone, but leaping out and then obliterating it.
Perhaps that type of complete life transformation is what some are called to, but regardless of what our lives look like, I believe each one of us is being invited to re-examine what it looks like in each of our lives to follow Christ, just as these would-be followers were being asked then. To not be lukewarm about it, to not simply go through the spiritual motions, but to really dig in and discern what we're being called to do as Christian disciples. In many ways we're all walking that path already and it's led us here to this church, but what if we each went deeper, whatever that meant individually or as a church? How can we make space and time in our lives to develop a deeper relationship with Jesus, to listen, and to also have the courage to act on where we're being led? How can we develop some discipline in our discipleship? Perhaps this would look as life altering as going to Togo to do missionary work, as Alicia Pasko from our congregation is doing now. Or maybe it could be as subtle as acting on an urge to extend a handshake or a hug, not knowing how it will be received, because in your heart it seems like the right and loving thing to do. Perhaps it looks like not laughing at a racial put down couched in a joke while you stand in a group of acquaintances, or developing a discipline of quiet time, scripture reading, and prayer.
Where your or my discernment process will lead is a mystery, but it's exciting to think about. It has been so meaningful for me to be with you this past year in my interim role, and to witness in new ways to the many and varied gifts this congregation and staff offer in the name of faith.
To continue our Christian journey, "the Christian ride" as Jeff once said, where are we being led? I believe Jesus is inviting us into the inherent tension that comes with following him, in examining what tolerance and discernment look like in each of our lives and as a church, in living the questions.
The good and hopefully comforting news is that we can live out that tension together, as a community of Christian searchers. In that community we can find support through the transformative and strength giving powers of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and their movement through us. The scripture doesn't say if the three would be followers went with Jesus that day. Will we push off the platform of our comfort zones and follow him, trusting that our attachment to a divine guide wire is secure? Will we take a leap of faith?
Amen.
July 1, 2007
Jill E. Cifelli
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