The costs of discipleship.
Ordinary Sunday 23: 9th September, 2001
Fr John Davis, Vicar of St Peter's Eastern Hill
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit
down and estimate the cost...? Lk 14: 28.
There are three things from the last month of holiday that I bring to bear
on my own reconsideration of the gospel for this Sunday. One was very sad, one
was amusing, one very awesome. Each in their own way will have some results.
The sad one was to renew contact with a very dear friend going back to the
1970s in Canada, only to discover that she has just been diagnosed with very
extensive cancer through most of her organs. In a moment her life is in
complete turmoil and everything is in a completely new context. As we all
know, when we hear of such a thing in someone close, it sends shudders of
fear through us too, reminded as we are of our own mortality as well as pain
for the plight of the other. In that context for instance, it is clear that
material possessions are of little concern. There is something much, much
more significant to be dealt with and it is very hard.
The next one was a totally new experience for me. For the first time in
my life I sat in a restaurant and had a special 'seniors menu' offered to
me without question. I had not thought I was that much in need of a holiday!
But it does make one think. Oh yes, that clock is ticking away. What is left
to do?
The third awesome one was the experience of being in the forest areas of
the giant redwoods – the quiet magnificence of trees, some aged a
thousand years or more and as high as a thirty storey building. It is quite
breath taking to stand and witness to the natural sense of the power of the
place like being in the grandest of cathedrals only somehow more so, because
of the eloquent silence of the place. It provides an urgent and still silence
that testifies beyond words, how large this world is, how "charged with the
glory of God," it is. In that it is a sign of how much it matters that we
take our places as students and stewards of creation, as guests at this meal;
as those who take our place together, to listen to the Lord and to make our
response, in the context of our lives in this world we have been given.
So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not
give up all your possessions. Lk 14: 33.
What might these words mean? It is important to note that these hard words
were addressed not to a select group of potential contemplatives but, we are
told, to the 'great crowds' who were travelling with him. But it is also
important to note this narrative is placed in the gospel immediately after
the parable of the invitation to the great banquet, when all sorts of invited
people found all sorts of excuses not to attend. And the Lord then sent out
to the streets and lanes to find some who would respond and come out for the
great feast to which they are invited.
And in what follows, what we hear today, we are in the heart of the
teachings of Luke's Gospel. Story after story; parable after parable, as
the understanding of the nature of Jesus's call to us is explained and
unfolded; as the costs involved in the free following of this Jesus of
Nazareth are declared. This is all part of a continuing journey, of unfolding
understanding of a difficult truth and a difficult grace.
It is useful to note here the parallel text to this in Matthew, which is
perhaps clearer and more helpful in its conveying of the meaning of the
teaching:
Whoever loves father of mother more than me is not worthy of
me...and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Those who find their life will lose it. And those who lose their life for my
sake will find it. Mtt 10: 37-39.
But still the question is this: Who is actually going to be prepared to
follow this sort of leadership and direction? What could it look like?
Certainly it is possible to consider the response of great figures of the past
to texts like these. St Francis of Assisi took it quite literally, left home
and family and possessions, forever renouncing such associations, for the
greater good and greater call. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's great work on "The Cost
of Discipleship" remains in print nearly 60 years after his martyrdom in Nazi
Germany because of the clear integrity of the one who wrote it, made clear by
the price he had to pay for following Christ. He was a shining example in the
face of seemingly overwhelming political odds. There are other examples.
Countless Christians in every generation have weighed things up and been
prepared to forego abundance of possessions, relationships and pre-eminent
ties of blood and affection. We have some amongst our own numbers. We honour
them.
But to a degree, there are choices to be made along these lines virtually
daily by each of us. Less dramatic, but nonetheless real and still crucial
and difficult. The choice to pray, the choice to worship, the choice to speak
up, or out, or to remain silent. The choice to act, to share, to give. The
choice to be generous of heart. All these require sacrifice, require choice,
And what is the framework within which these choices are to be made? What
then is to be our shaping philosophy, our guiding principle, our community
and structure of belief and our range of actions within all these options?
For in today's gospel our attention is indeed drawn to the necessity of
attempting to weigh all these things up for the final summary, for the giving
up, in life, in death, in every day, in faith. There are two examples given;
one of a major building project, the other relating to a potential battle.
And in each an appropriate process is followed. Sit down first to estimate
the cost and the available resources; sit down first to consider the odds.
Then take considered action in the context of the life you are given.
The epistle today offers a view of that choosing – from the very short
letter of Paul to Philemon about a runaway slave, now a baptised part of
Paul's own household. Leaving aside the morality of slavery itself, we are
dealing with a powerful request to a former master regarding one who has
perhaps robbed him and left him – at the very least a major breach in relationship, We are all familiar enough with that aspect of this story. But
notice here how both master and slave are expected to be in a new context,
dealing with existing relationship while living out into, and out of, the
gospel of forgiveness, love and transformation. Not at all easy. But a very
concrete example of weighing up and considering of potential options;
bringing into play shaping guidelines, and living them out in faith and
community.
Our psalm today was part of psalm 90. We are urged here too to get our
sense of perspective clear.
'Teach us so to number our days:
that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.' Ps 90:10
Weighing up, considering, making choices, reviewing priorities in light
of living and dying and all that is involved – eventually determining
what is of fundamental importance and then following it faithfully. That is
the challenge that today's gospel presents. The fundamentally important thing
put before those who were hearing the teaching, and those of us hearing it
again now, is the challenge of following God in Jesus Christ. In this following
there is life and hope and purpose. Beside it, all other priorities are placed
in a secondary context. In it and through it, all other relationships, loves,
cares and works are given renewed meaning. For Christ is the friend waiting
for our response, Christ is the one reminding us of life and death, and Christ
is the one who calls us to follow to that great feast that is waiting to be
shared, in the love of God.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit
down and estimate the cost...? Lk 14:28.
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