Most of the images that we in the Church want to consider for Jesus are more warm and fuzzy kind of images that are gentle on the heart and filled with kindness, compassion and relationship formation rather than the opposite. We think, perhaps of Jesus speaking to the children, or responding to a woman with medical concerns that have gone on for years or raising a child from death long after others had given up hope. We think of gentle parables about good Samaritans or mustard seeds or a sower with seeds. That is the Jesus we often think about and tell others about. Jesus the healer, the mystic, the story-teller, the bridge-builder, the welcomer, the one willing to die for us and help us to see a glimpse of the fullness of God’s grace and love. That is the easier Jesus for us to manage.
But this morning we heard the voice of the Jesus that is not always so easy to swallow. The Jesus who seemed to be encouraging division or contention or disdain. This Jesus is harder for us to agree with or discern how it might fit with our life and our vision for our living. For we come to church this morning, maybe along with our family perhaps desperate to hear good news with all that is happening in our lives… and we heard: Now large crowds were travellign with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, “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 disciples.”
These are tough words to swallow on any day but they seem pretty tough to swallow with all that is going on in the world at the moment, certainly for me. A message of love your neighbour are more the words that we need to hear rattling around this church, this neighbourhood, this country, this world of our times, it seems to me. Whoever does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters seems far too difficult for me to swallow. This was the first week back for children going to school, students going to university, for teachers, professors and those who greatly influence our young people, these words seems oddly out of place.
And in our world we see images of children starving in Gaza while leaders argue about the language of a cease fire. We see hospitals being bombed in Ukraine while leaders seem to be posturing for the camera. We see victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan and we know we need offer compassion and hope and not division or greater violence.
But the Jesus we worship, follow and imitate is not some one-dimensional figure as we often portray him. The true Jesus used language, story and invitation to awaken us to something much greater in life that we often simply cover over or ignore. This Jesus was not afraid to challenge us, question us, push us to something greater and far more than the simple or ordinary. He was calling us to a greater depth.
Just over a week ago, people all around the world were shocked at the news of shooting at a school in the United States. Sadly this is news that we have hears far too often and with far too much regualarity. What was particularly shocking was that it was during the first Mass or Holy Eucharist service for the school year of this school. What was supposed to be holy, safe and sacred ground was filled with violence and terror and horror. I am sure you heard that two children were dead and many others injured. It is beyond comprehension to try ot understand why this would have happened. I won’t even try to analyze or give you some simple pat answer. Were Jesus’ words to us this morning supportive of this violence.
Absolutely not. Jesus was not urging us to hatred but rather to think deeply about what are our priorities and understanding of what it means to hold onto the love of God as the centre to our lives and our living. He, as often did in his preaching, was using hyperbolic, or exaggerated language to make a point. He was taking it to an extreme to get people’s attention that the core and vital part of life centred on our relationship with God and how that affected every other relationship we might have in life. Every other relationship. It wakes us up doesn’t it? Stop the self-interested outlook in life that is often sold as what we are all about in this world, stop that outlook and examine more carefully what it is that God hopes of us.
I read an article this week about the shooting in the Minnesota church where students had gathered for mass. Here are a few words from that article. “When it is time for Wednesday Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church, students from the school next door file into the front pews and settle in with their assigned buddies from different grades. Middle schoolers might sit with first graders, fifth graders with third graders. It is a sacred, if ordinary part of the rhythm at Annunciation in Minneapolis, where children practice for their turn to read Scripture or to be part of the choir during their grades’ week to lead the Mass… That tradition was shattered during the first Wednesday Mass of the school year, when a shooter fired into the service during the recitation of Psalm 139. The attack killed two students and left 18 people injured. At least one student, who was shot in the back, used his body to protect another child. ‘You have searched me and you know me, Lord, the day’s psalm says in part. ‘For darkness itself is not dark, and night shines as the day.’”
The article concluded with these words from the Archbishop of that region: “Lord as we mourn the sudden death of our children, show us the immense power of your goodness.”
And that is the central message to our faith. Our hope and our trust that at the core to life, at the centre of all that takes place in the world, that no matter what (even a shooting, starvation, bombs dropping, earthquake, climate emergency, fire, flood, cancer, heart condition, violence on Main Street or anything that could ever take place) no matter what God’s love endures forever. The darkness of the world is not simply darkness, we can find God in the midst, with us, amongst us, comforting us. And Jesus spoke to this. He even confronted us with it. That this love of God is central above all else. Give up you possessions Jesus reminded us, to see what is truly at the heart of life. We are aiming to build a tower in this life, a tower that is built upon a foundation of God’s grace that blesses, holds and shapes every aspect of life, every aspect. And Jesus expects us to live accordingly.
While we might simply crave gentle words of Jesus, we also need to hear that there are expectations put upon those of us who follow him. Expectations that if we believe in the love of God then we need to shape our lives upon it. Seek it in the darkest moments and places and live recognizing that there is no other heart to life than that.
May it be so in all that we do.