The Rev. Neale L. Miller

Sermon for May 25, 2008

Texts: Jeremiah 18:1-11/Luke 14:25-33

Title: “Look Both Ways”

              What was one of the first things we were taught as kids?  For me, “look both ways” would have a spot at the head of the list. That caution was drilled into me, us, over and over. As advice goes, it is some of the soundest we ever got.  Sound advice perhaps, but we didn’t always take it to heart. “Look both ways.” That lapse of concentration has caused some of us a trip to the doctor or the body shop.

              Sometimes those lapses in concentration span years or decades. A friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen for a long while was remarking the other day on how his health had broken down. Too sedentary and careless with his food choices, the weight had crept up exposing him to heart problems, high cholesterol numbers, and diabetes. He admitted that he had been lax in looking after himself.  He hadn’t looked both ways.

              “Look both ways.”  Sometimes our attention becomes so focused in one direction that we fail to acknowledge other realities.

              The sharp hike in oil prices has focused the attention of anyone who uses energy, and that would be all of us.  We have known for years now that oil is a non-renewal resource, yet over the years no serious steps have been taken by anyone to anticipate the day that has now arrived---a failure to look both ways.

              The disciples of our Lord, are, generally speaking, portrayed as being a pretty faithful and adaptive lot.  The gospels tell us that these were men who essentially dropped everything they were doing to follow Jesus.  From the time we were children in Sunday school the twelve disciples have been portrayed as heroes to be emulated, people who took Jesus’ call very seriously.  And fact of the matter is they are deserving of our respect.  But they were not perfect, a fact that was most consistently demonstrated in one basic area.  Their eyes were in most instances set on glory, even as the eyes of the Lord were set on the cross.

              “Look both ways.”  The message of Jesus was clear, only the disciples didn’t want to hear it.  In their minds’ eye they saw opportunity, the coveted prize of sitting at the Lord’s right hand and his left in glory.  The disciples had convinced themselves that they would stand in the first rank at the awards banquet in heaven.  They had aspirations for themselves, but those aspirations in very important ways didn’t align with the Lord’s.  They failed to look both ways.

              My first job was delivering papers.  My parents had reservations right from the start.  Did I know what I was getting into?  Would I be willing to get up at five in the morning seven days a week to deliver papers, rain, snow, cold, or summer heat?  Already counting the twenty-five or thirty dollars I could earn every week, I believed I could handle any challenge that came my way, and besides, I coveted a particular perk that came with carrying papers.  I got to ride around with this king-size wire basket installed on the front handlebars of my bike.  It was a status symbol in my neighborhood identifying me as one of select group of Milwaukee Sentinel paper carriers.

              While the payday was always most welcome, the five o’clock wake up got old very fast.  My tenure in the newspaper delivery business lasted about four months, for I had failed to look both ways before taking that job.

              A basic caution it may be, but “look both ways” is the kind of advice that is easily forgotten when ego needs overcome prudence.  It is only human, after all, to focus on the positive, to commit to personally rewarding ambitions and projects.  That, of course, pertains to the decisions we make both as individuals, and those made in collectives such as businesses, governments, or churches.

              “Have you looked both ways”?  The challenge issues from Jesus repeatedly.  “Have you looked both ways?”  “Are you really ready to follow me?”

              During Jesus’ earthly ministry all sorts of questions swirled around him concerning his identity. Who was this guy, anyway? Some, particularly those in authority positions in the synagogue or the Roman occupying forces that ruled in Palestine, regarded Jesus as a threat to both religious and domestic order.  The synagogue leaders were wary of him.  He was a peasant outsider, not one of them. Claiming to be prophets, others like him had come and gone.  In the end they always tripped up.  Wait long enough and this so-called prophet would do the same.

              The Romans and the Jewish authority looked one way.  Discounting any claims that Jesus, or persons speaking on his behalf, might make concerning his authority as a religious leader, the Romans and the Jewish leaders scoffed at any idea that he might be divine.

              Jesus was a possible troublemaker who bore watching. Another group took another view. It was among this latter group that speculation spread that Jesus might be the long-anticipated Messiah, heir of King David, who would usher in God’s kingdom on earth.

              Rabble-rouser or divine herald of God’s kingdom, allegiance to each position grew as Jesus’ reputation grew.  In time, Jesus, aware of the differing opinions circulating about him, confronted his disciples, “who do people say that I am?”  The disciples could of course, tell Jesus very little that he already didn’t know.  Opinions were all over the map.  Why even the men who daily traveled with him and saw him in action were of a divided mind.

              When the subject is Jesus you best be advised to look both ways.  The church states that Jesus is human.  The church states that Jesus is divine.  Yet the specific question of how both natures can co-exist within a single person has been, and remains, a question with which the church has grappled literally from the first century.  Though a divine mystery incapable of being fully explained, we Christians believe on the basis of the biblical revelation that what God has revealed in his incarnate son is the most complete revelation of who God is.  At the same time the revelation often challenges us to set aside our pet notions of who God is and what God expects of us.  The revelation, in other words, challenges us to look both ways.

              Rabble rouser or Son of God, the community was split.  Now say that you numbered yourself in the son of God category.  You were one of those people who believed that Jesus was a walking, talking embodiment of God.  Suppose now that Jesus threw you a curve.  That, of course, is exactly what Jesus did in the Luke passage I read earlier.

              Radical stuff.  “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.”  These words have challenged interpreters for eons. That word “hate” presents us with a real interpretative challenge, through a challenge softened somewhat if we define hate to mean, as many commentators do, “being willing to live without.”

              What am I willing to live without? I have found myself asking that question more frequently in the last several months.  Perhaps it’s a product of reaching a certain age.  I have found myself asking serious questions about the choices I have made, and the choices left to be made.

                 I hear Jesus in the gospel calling me to make certain choices, choices that will bring my life more perfectly into alignment with his.  But is that what I really want? Is there enough in what he offers to persuade me to live without some other things to which I have grown attached? That is my ongoing struggle, and perhaps the same holds for you.  

              If you are struggling as I am, perhaps we can take solace in the fact that others have struggled as we have. The disciples who lived with Jesus struggled. The disciples struggled right up to the time of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. Did they really want what Jesus was offering?  Judging from the fact that they abandoned him when his need was greatest, you would have to say that they really DIDN’T want what Jesus was offering, not, at least, if it meant suffering. Suffering was no less repugnant for Jesus’ disciples then it is for us. They were only human. And we are only human.

              We are only human.  Friends, Jesus knows that.  You have to marvel that he keeps on coming back to us when we, following our all too human ways, keep looking for fulfillment in the wrong places.

               He keeps coming back.  There are some in the church who press their followers to make a decision for Christ.  And isn’t that precisely what Christ is asking for in our morning’s lesson? True enough, he is asking us to make our decision.  Christ, however, knows enough about the human heart and human nature to know that any decision we make concerning him can be very provisional.

There are some in the church who preach for decision. Salvation is the reward offered to those who decide for Christ, damnation to those who fail to make that decision. Neat and tidy, in or out; final.

Life, of course is not neat and tidy, and the decisions we make are not neat and tidy, and yet Jesus keeps coming back to us. No, not to make some final, decisive decision to follow him.  While Jesus was with them his own disciples never made a final decision to follow him, yet by the grace of God you would have to say that they did a lot of things right, though it took them much trial and error before they got things right.

              Jesus isn’t asking more from us than we are capable of giving. Not, “Decide right now, or be damned!” What he IS asking is for us to make a start, to cultivate habits that will help us experience his gospel with greater clarity. Some suggestions.

              If you are only an occasional worshiper, make it less occasional.  If you are occasional in prayer, make it less occasional.  If you are occasional in the Bible, find it, read it.  My suggestion? Start with the gospels.  If you are occasional in sharing your time and talents with the church, try a new approach.  If you have questions, ask them; doubts, challenge them.

              Look both ways.  I have arrived at a stage in my life when I have begun to question where I have looked for answers and why.  I have made some mistakes.  Perhaps you have too. But this is no time for resignation.

              Look both ways.  You may well have failed to do that, many of us have failed to do that on more than one occasion, yet Jesus keeps coming back.  “Follow me,” he says. You will be challenged, challenged to surrender some things that you believe you could not possibly live with out.  Jesus says, “Follow me.”  “Trust me.” “I know a better way.”

             Friends, if we are truly serious about discovering that “better way,” there is sufficient grace in Christ to remove any and all obstacles we may encounter.  It is never too late to accept Jesus’ invitation to a new life. AMEN.

PRAYER

              O God be patient with us and forbearing as we attempt to live faithfully.  Give us the mind of Christ that we may be strengthened, the empowering of you spirit that we might be inspired to do your will, and the discipline of faith that we might follow the path that leads to wholeness.

              Cleansing us in the waters of baptism, O God, you offer us freedom the world cannot give.  Yet we are captives to what is base, what is sinful, and we repeatedly fail to do your will.  Lord, help us to remember that we have been baptized.  Help us to remember that Christ has won the final victory over sin and death, and that as he healed the sick and freed the oppressed, he is ready to heal us.  Open our eyes to the new possibilities that Christ introduces to life, and by your spirit empower us to take advantage of them.

              O God, you have commissioned each generation to share the faith, teacher-mentoring student, student in turn teaching.  Lord, we are grateful for all those who have been commissioned for the ministry of education. As this Sunday school year concludes we recognize the special blessings that have been ours to enjoy as the result of the dedication of our Sunday school teachers. They have taught with faith, intelligence and passion, and you, O God, have used them as vessels of grace.  As they have enriched us, embolden us to use our gifts to enrich others who have not encountered your word.

              Eternal God, we continue to pray for the people of Myanmar and China as they cope with the devastation caused by natural disaster. Even as the relief efforts proceed, we pray that your Spirit will sustain those who have lost hope, or are losing it.

              Eternal One, abide with those who serve in public office.  We pray for our President, his advisors, and all those cabinet officers who are prominent in shaping public policy.  We pray for federal and state legislators and our mayor and all those who manage our local government agencies.  Grant unto all public officials the wisdom and initiative to meet the challenges they face.  May justice and integrity shape their decisions.

              O God we pray that you may be for each of us a guiding light as we live our lives.  Uphold us as we meet the challenges of the coming week.  Grant that we may do not what is expedient and self-serving, but that which is honorable and righteous in you eyes.  Grant us patience as we face new challenges, forbearance when our plans go array, faith to wait and watch for your will to be disclosed.

              God of grace and mercy, on this Memorial Day weekend we recognize the sacrifice of men and women who have served this country with distinction in times of war.  The legacy of courage and self-sacrifice they have left behind, and continue to build, will never be forgotten. Abide in the homes of those who mourn the fallen in battle. Sustain with a willing spirit those whom grief and heartache have consumed. 

              O God, our God, we are mortal, you are immortal, we are misshapen, you are perfection.  Let not the distance that separates us discourage us, but remind us that it is just that distance you were willing to overcome in Jesus Christ, you incarnate son, the human expression of your eternal love.

              O God, our counselor and our beloved, hear our prayers, for those we now name. Your children, all of them, grant them special grace to manage the particular challenges to which they are being exposed. We pray for Rudy, Mary Ann, Pam, Joyce, Shane, Wayne, Amelie,...