June 29, 2025: Third Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 9: 51-62
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When 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?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And 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.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
I imagine we have all had times in our lives when, as the result of a decision we’ve made to go in a different direction, we feel we are in uncharted waters. We may believe deep down this new direction is the right one for us, but it still feels scary because it is new. Whether we’ve decided to change jobs, or we’re going to move, or we are choosing to make a relationship change, it’s important to enter into this new venture trusting that God will be with us.
If we have truly discerned that whatever new direction we are taking is going to help us become a better version of ourselves, then we need to fully embrace this part of our journey. It is easy, however, to second-guess ourselves, and it is natural to look back on our former lives with wistfulness and even, at times, regret.
But our God is a God who wants fullness of life for us, and who calls us to new ways of living and loving that oftentimes stretch us, sometimes in ways that are hard for us. We may resist being stretched and having to adjust to this new way of being. We might chafe against the changes we are being thrust into, and wish we could have our former, comfortable lives back.
But Jesus challenges us in today’s gospel reading to leave our old selves behind. He tells the last person who wants to say goodbye to “those at my home” before following him that, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9: 62). When we answer God’s invitation to new ways of being and doing, God will give us the grace and the courage to wholeheartedly say “Yes” to whatever lies before us in this journey called life.
Thanks Sally! I needed the message!
You are very welcome, Betty! I’m glad it spoke to you!
This is a good reminder that change is hard but God gives us courage and peace as we follow his lead. Thank you.
You are welcome, Lexine! I’m glad you found my reflection helpful!
Sally