Headrests

When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.

When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:51-62)

When we decide to commit to service of others and to love them in ways that may be strange for us, we are not to look back; that is, not to second guess ourselves and then vacillate.  We are to “set our hand to the plow” and persevere.  When we look back as a plowman might, our path of broken ground becomes uneven and even zigzag.  We need straight ways, and that happens with a firm grip on the plow – our course we take – and eyes froward.

One straight path is not to “call down fire” to consume those who disagree with us or worship God in different ways.  Another is to offer hospitality to those without “dens or nests.” In other words, we must help those in need, especially those who have lost homes for whatever reason.  When we do all these things, and more, the Son of Man has somewhere to rest his head.

Deacon David Pierce