Seriously.

20160626

After Pentecost 6

Gospel                                                                                                                 Luke 9:51-62

51When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.  57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Grace to you and peace from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Some of you already know, that I am often a far too serious person.  I love laughter, I love jokes, but the truth is, sometimes I feel like the mom in the room – all the time.

In fact, in preparation for this sermon, I googled “Too Serious” and the first thing I noticed was that all the meme’s had incorrect grammar.  Don’t take life too seriousLY.  Adjectives becomes adverbs, people!!  Use the “LY”!

And… I’ve made my point.  Now you will all be scared to speak around me, lest I judge your grammar.  Because I take these things seriously.

So while I need all of you to help me lighten up.  (Please, please, please!  Help me!)  I may be the one to help make sense of this Bible Story today that sounds like a bunch of random comments Jesus is making to people. Or worse, a very cranky Jesus. 

Well, Jesus probably did get cranky sometimes, God sure did, but I don’t think that is the point of this story. 

I think the point of this story is Jesus saying: Are you taking me Seriously?

Following Jesus is a path of wondrous promises and amazing new life…and freedom.  Over and over again, freedom from the worst the world can offer.  Because following Jesus, we find a whole community of people who are right here along side us, stretching, growing and sacrificing their own best interest for the interest of the whole, the whole group, the whole of creation.  Living together, comforting one another, holding up one another in faith, in trusting God, and in a way of life that constantly seeks to build a life where everyone is fed, nourished and loved.

So when Jesus encounters these fellows on the road, fellows that want to follow him, to walk in his ways, to learn from him.  One after another, they hear Jesus say, “Are you taking me Seriously?”

One person didn’t seem to understand the sense of sacrifice required on this path.  One person put his family before Jesus, a father who very well may not have yet been dead.  One person wants to hold on to all that is “home.”  I imagine that Jesus, knowing these people more deeply than they could ever imagine, more deeply than they could ever know themselves!  I imagine that Jesus knows them, and challenges each one of them in a unique and specific way to their life circumstance.

So what is Jesus saying to you? 

Jesus is constantly in these conversations with his followers like us.  Where have you heard Jesus inviting you to think carefully about your discipleship, a challenge meant just for you?

Today, we are reminded of the great thing God does for us in baptism.  The gifts of new life, community and salvation that we are given in those waters, and that are renewed each time we gather around this table.  We are known beyond our imagination and loved completely, no matter what.  And as we receive these gifts, we sense the Thank You welling up in us.  

The response to Jesus invitation and love for us.  The thank you that comes out as love for our neighbors. 

And we hear Jesus ask us, Are you taking me seriously? 

I know a few people who are.

Emily.  Here today, she is will stand up in front of this congregation of Jesus-followers and confess her faith.  She will tell us what it means to her and how she responds in love toward her neighbor.  When Emily was working on the faith statement she will share with you today, we had some serious conversation about what it means to be a Child of God, and a Jesus – follower.  Emily will share her faith statement by reflecting on the 10 commandments.  These commandments are foundational to our understanding of the life that God wants us to have, and sent Jesus to give us.   

We talked about how the commandments are not just rules to follow, not just a list of “no’s” but also a list of “yes’s.”  The commandments are a perfect example of the kind of seriousness Jesus was getting at with his followers in our gospel for today.  How does our new life with Jesus reflect this kind of serious transformation?  Now that we have been saved, now that we are made God’s people in baptism, what kind of life will we live?  Not just what kind of rules will we follow, but…as Jesus said when he was asked what is the greatest commandment… what kind of love will we have for God and neighbor?  

How will we love ourselves?  How will we love people who walk in these doors?  How will we love people who are outside these walls?  And outside these trees?  

How will we do our part in God’s baptismal covenant with us: proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

Baptized children of God, Our goal is to love people!  Like we say in our Vision Statement: To shine the light of God’s love!!

You know, it isn’t just Emily who is taking Jesus seriously, of course.  It’s all of us.  Look right over there.  You have planted a garden to give fresh produce to the food shelf this summer.  And if you haven’t seen them, go check out the town community gardens in Southbridge!  We, God’s people have helped plant those and given them back over to the people who live there, so they can grow their own food, so they can feed themselves.

 

Tell me that isn’t shining the light of God’s love beyond these trees!

And go to The Closet sometime, see the light of God’s love shining in Andrea’s tender interactions with those who are lost and confused.  See the light of God’s love bringing gratitude to people’s hearts to receive clothing at Concordia Lutheran’s breakfast ministry. Come serve meals and maybe even bring a little Vacation Bible Camp fun to the Southbridge Community Center this August, where 75% of children qualify for free or reduced meals, and when there are no meals, there is hunger.

When you leave here today, ready to head back for another week of the craziness and fun of summer, bring Jesus question along with you… Are you taking Jesus Seriously?  How might you best use your whole self, your body, talents, love and resources to shine God’s love out beyond these trees.  You’re already doing it, why not take Jesus up on his invitation?  Who knows what kind of Serious Stuff Jesus might do through you.  You just might end up proclaiming the kingdom of God.

Amen.