The Journey Begins

13^th Sunday Ordinary Time – Cycle C

1 Kings 19: 16b, 19-21; Galatians 5: 1, 13-18; 

Luke 9: 51-62

There are no promises when travelling. There is no “spendid time guaranteed for all.” You can prepare for months, but those plans can be foiled by outside forces beyond our control. Small things like the weather or an airline strike – larger things like an oil spill or terrorist alert – can interfere and ruin all of our plans. When we leave the comfort and the safety of our homes and venture forth into the world, we leave behind that security and take our chances. So why should we go? We hope that the benefits and the rewards will outweigh the risk and the uncertainty involved. Jesus invites us all on just such a journey in today's gospel.

The Gospel of Luke is divided into two main themes – the first deals with Jesus and his ministry in Galilee. When you reach the midway point of the Gospel, today's reading, Luke states that Jesus journeys resolutely toward Jerusalem. From this point forward, the Master and his followers have a destination in site. All of Luke's readings for the rest of our liturgical year will come from this travel narrative.

A few years ago, my son James and his classmates went on a three-day camp out to Otter Creek Park. The trip was a 7^th grade tradition – a rite of passage – a time for bonding as they prepared to become the new leaders of the school. One of the activities that they experienced was a high ropes course. The 7^th graders were harnessed to ropes for safety and encouraged to maneuver through several obstacles among the tree tops. At the “leap of faith” the youth are told to jump from one platform to another. There is nothing but a long way down in between. The distance looked impossible. The teens who rushed through the leap of faith covered the distance easily and were able to move on. The secret was not to linger. Those who stopped, looked down, and weighed the risks, had a much harder time making the jump.

The followers of Jesus had a similar decision to make. Some were able to heed the words and follow. Those who were distracted by other obligations had a more difficult time. Their journey, if they chose to go, could have been made easier had they trusted the Lord completely. Our journey is no different. We must not linger. We must take that leap of faith and follow Christ without hesitation. That can be difficult to do. This journey has no itinerary. There are no promises of hotel suites with room service. There are no bell boys here – we carry our own baggage so travelling light is essential.

There is an urgency in the words that we proclaimed today. Jesus is telling everyone to “follow me” and he warns them all that this journey will not be an easy one. “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” He is asking if we are prepared to embrace hardship for the kingdom.

I watch the Travel Channel a lot when I am at home. I love learning about the exotic locations, the local cuisine and the adventures that await those who are willing. But there comes a point when watching the program is not enough. You need to turn off the television, get off the couch, and embark on your own journey.

Going to church can be a bit like watching the travel channel. We sit in the pews and hear about the Kingdom of God. We get a brief taste of the banquet that awaits us at the end of the journey. Some believe that the Kingdom of God is not of this world – that it can only be reached through death and a new life in Christ. And so they do nothing. They bide their time. But Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is at hand. It is here and now. We are continually challenged in our daily lives – at home, in the workplace, at the grocery store, sitting in traffic. We are challenged to carry the Good News with us always, not just in our hearts, but on our sleeves as well. Until we are able to get up from the pews and follow Jesus 24-7, we are still watching that travel channel.

The Jesus in today's Gospel is urging each of us - “follow me” and make that leap of faith. “Follow me” and I will show you the way. “Follow me” and experience the Kingdom of God firsthand.

Deacon Darryl J. Diemer
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 27, 2010