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To another [Jesus] 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." (Luke 9:59-62)
Read Sunday's scriptures here.
Have you ever found yourself working so much that you miss out on the little things in life? I know I have certainly missed out on drinks with friends, dinner with Katelyn, and all of my brother's soccer and baseball games largely to my work schedule. As a young professional (or a seasoned breadwinner), it can be quite difficult to find a happy medium between doing the labor that is required of us in our professional lives and maintaining healthy personal relationships.
I wrestle with Sunday's Gospel because of how Jesus addresses the men he meets on the road. These men are ready to follow Jesus--not just follow in the spiritual sense, but ready to leave their families and lives behind to join the ranks of his disciples, but first, they simply want to take care of their unfinished business and say goodbye. And what does Jesus say in return? "No, you can't bury your father first or say goodbye to your loved ones. You must put aside your 'priorities.' You have to drop everything and follow me." That is no easy task for anybody, in any day and age, and in any context,
especially coming from the mouth of the Son of God!
According to Luke, Jesus says "no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Where does work place in our hierarchy of priorities? Is it before the dance recital or t-ball game? Before family dinner or parent-teacher conferences? By the same token, where does Jesus and His Church fall into the circles of our lives? When does our business turn into disconnect or even regret? And how does that affect our relationship with our loved ones and with God? I offer no answers or solutions, but a simple admission that I too struggle with these same questions.
I can see why Jesus was so forceful.
Ask anyone who knows me well and the first word they'd probably use to describe me is "busy." I work at St. James, I direct three choirs of the Cincinnati Children's Choir, I conduct a community women's chorus, I direct musicals, play piano for choir concerts and wedding ceremonies, attend conferences and workshops, and lead music camps and workshops all throughout the year. At the same time, I maintain a close circle of friends, a fantastic committed relationship, spend quality time with my parents and siblings, and (attempt) to continue a healthy and childlike relationship with God. How do I do it? Not gracefully, that's for sure. And with so much on my plate, things fall by the wayside very easily.
 In this passage, Jesus is not telling us to give up working. He is calling us to work (and live) without regret. It is a motivation to walk (or stumble) down a path where work, personal, and church life are in balance. Those who find ways to balance the familial, professional, and spiritual elements of our lives will in turn create a more fruitful and meaningful relationship with God.
While I cannot offer a universal solution to this circus act, I can say that even the littlest steps are a good start. Perhaps it is rearranging your workday so that you might spend an hour or two with family next week. Perhaps it is donating your time to the dinner crew for the Community Supper or Music Camp next month. This is easier for some than others, but I assure you--any action you take to bring your life closer in balance is a step in the right direction.
Jesus calls us in this and so many passages in the Bible to be faithful, proactive, and childlike followers of Christ. And by shuffling our priorities around to fit His model of ministry, perhaps it would allow our professional and personal lives, as well as the life of this congregation, to bear fruit and prosper.
Blessings and beautiful music,
Alex
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