Focus, focus, focus

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Nehemiah 2:1-8
Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Luke 9:57-62

Here’s how I see Wednesday’s gospel. Jesus gives three different responses (or are they?) to three different kinds of people who want to join Jesus on the journey. The first of these is the enthusiast, the idealist. "I'll follow you wherever you go." And Jesus responds—“You say that now, yes, and I'm sure you mean it now--but you say it without knowing its meaning. If you can know it’s meaning and still be so enthusiastic, then by all means, join me.”

The second would-be disciple has the obligation of unresolved religious duties. He has the obligation of burying his father. To this Jesus says, “That's another excuse. When you have buried him, you will find another reason and another reason and another reason, all perfectly good, all proper and all reasonable. And all of these reasons will be serving God in one way or another. But they are mere excuses. Proper religious duty, religious duty that is alive and well attends to the center not to the edges.”

Finally, a person approaches with the responsibility of familial obligation. Jesus recognizes the importance of these but emphasizes the importance of serving the Kingdom. Once you know your duty, once you know what God requires, there can be no going home and saying goodbye. But interestingly, there is also no need, because serving God does not require abandoning those we love any more than taking a job in another city does. Indeed, serving God is taking a job in another city—in the City of God, which is present to all forever.

The gospel is a strong reminder how in deciding to follow Jesus, we have to have a single-minded commitment and focus in our discipleship. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Our Faith demands that we follow the path less traveled, that we listen to the Holy Spirit who burns in our hearts, that we ensure our thoughts and actions are grounded in the commitment to our Faith; our commitment to our Faith comes first. And rather than reduce the value of the other aspects of our lives, this commitment above all others actually enriches all other life dimensions.

Our Faith in Jesus casts light on every aspect of us, and our relationships. It allows us to appreciate what is truly valuable, gives us discernment to pursue things everlasting, enhances our relationship with ourselves and those around us -- but only after our commitment to Jesus has to come first -- and this must be founded in love.