Prayers of Approach
Lord God, we marvel that all through the ages you have called people to follow you. And when they have listened, amazing things have happened! And now, it’s us! Thank you for the new life we have in you. We owe absolutely everything to you. You give us freedom to be our best selves. We worship you.
Lord, you have given us the freedom to follow you or to turn away; to love or to hurt others; to show care or to be unkind. Help us to learn today how to make good choices and to love our neighbours as ourselves.
We gather in the power of your Spirit, O Lord. Give us the wisdom to live in the Spirit, and to show the fruit of the Spirit in who we are. Make us people of love, joy and peace; make us generous and kind; and help us to shape our lives with gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Amen.
Hymn God who spoke in the beginning (R&S 60)
Readings: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Luke 9:51-62
Introduction
As Elijah nears the end of his ministry he is told by God to anoint new kings for Israel and Aram, but most importantly to choose his successor which he does by throwing his mantle over the young Elisha. Elisha is torn between loyalty to his family and the call of God to venture into a new life but shows his choice by using his animals and equipment to host a banquet for his whole town before leaving them to follow Elijah. Elisha has truly burned his bridges to embrace the new life God calls him to.
Some things in life can wait. Other things have to be dealt with immediately. As Jesus begins a new stage of his ministry, directed towards Jerusalem he responds to hostility with calm tolerance. He asks for absolute commitment from those who want to follow him. For many, this makes for a difficult decision as they have plenty of other priorities and distractions, but Jesus gives a sense of urgency, encouraging his disciples to forgo everyday tasks in favour of the tasks of the kingdom of God. The call of Jesus requires instant and wholehearted attention but that is not always easy and challenges how we consider our priorities.
Hymn I want to walk with Jesus Christ (R&S 367, MP 302)
Sermon
The calling of Elisha is a rather strange affair but nonetheless Elisha accepts the call. Elijah does it by throwing his mantle (the sign of his prophetic status) over the younger man thus stressing the all-embracing nature of the call. But he then seems to agonise over his actions asking, ‘what have I done to you?’ Elisha’s response is dramatic. He says goodbye to his old life, his family and friends by slaughtering his oxen and using the rest of his equipment as fuel to cook them and throw a banquet for his community. In doing so he ensures that there will be nothing to return to, so serious is the call to be Elijah’s servant and ultimate successor.
This total break with his previous life could almost be a template for Jesus’ call to his disciples and followers centuries later. Jesus too calls for total commitment and a complete break with all that has gone before but Jesus’ challenge seems to demand an even greater level of sacrifice. To one who declares his readiness to follow Jesus anywhere, Jesus warns of a hard life with nowhere to rest. To another who says, ‘let me first bury my father’ it seems harsh and unfeeling to reply, ‘let the dead bury their own dead.’ And at least Elisha got the chance to say goodbye with a party.
As Jesus travels towards Jerusalem and what awaits him there the refusal of some to receive him provides a contrast with those who declare they will follow, even if they do want to do so on their own terms. The reaction of James and John to their rejection of Jesus however, shows that they haven’t yet grasped that Jesus is not coming in judgement but with an offer of love and acceptance. As for the various would-be disciples who appear along the way Jesus doesn’t have time to enter into extended conversations with any of them: it’s almost as if he is saying, ‘either you follow or you don’t – what is there to talk about?’ When we are on a journey – and especially when we are in a hurry – we may find it hard to be kind to those we encounter. Is Jesus so abrupt because he is in a hurry as he heads towards Jerusalem to meet his destiny there?
There is a clear and interesting contrast between Elisha, who has time to prepare for his departure, and those to whom Jesus speaks, who are told there is no time. But in both cases – Elisha because he has literally ‘burnt his boats’ (or oxen, in his case), and the would-be disciple because he is given clear instruction – there is no going back. Do we need to let go of anything to move forward with Jesus?
Jesus is fully aware of the cost of discipleship, and this is illustrated in these three short encounters. Whether actual events or brief parables, Jesus is almost brutally stark and uncompromising in his demands. He warns the first person that discipleship means becoming homeless. To the second, he suggests that discipleship is more important than fulfilling family duties, even in bereavement – which even today many will find shocking. To the third, he indicates that the commitment of a disciple is so urgent that there isn’t even time to say goodbye to his family. What are we to make of these demands in today’s world?
To make a conscious and voluntary decision to change the course of our life can be extremely challenging. As Jesus makes clear, the more we have, the harder it is to give it up. He wants people to think realistically, and not just be enthusiastic while the initial excitement lasts. He wants people to weigh up what it really means to be a disciple. Jesus knew which of the crowd following him that day would follow with true commitment: those for whom there was no looking or holding back. We might not be familiar with the perils of ploughing but imagine walking forward in a straight line while constantly looking back – Jesus’ point is easily demonstrated! We must keep our eyes firmly fixed on the kingdom ahead.
Hymn Will you come and follow me if I but call your name (R&S 558)
Prayers of Intercession
God of the past and the present, we come to you, with glad hearts: hearts that have found refuge in you; hearts that are content with your blessing; hearts that are not afraid, but trust you to lead them in the path of life, and we come to pray for a world in need of your loving care. Help us to help others to move towards a life of fullness, a life of joy and peace.
Loving God, we pray for those who have difficult decisions to make today: at home, at school, at work, in the community, in government… Holy Spirit, help them.
We pray for those suffering the consequences of bad choices: those in prison, those burdened with guilt, those consumed by regret… Holy Spirit, help them.
We pray for those whose decisions are made for them: the unwell, the elderly, those in places of oppression… Holy Spirit, help them.
We pray for those who are paralysed by indecision: the stressed, the fearful, those whose circumstances keep changing… Holy Spirit, help them.
We pray for those who, at this moment, are making desperate choices: whether to flee their homes, whether to go on living, whether to tell the truth… Holy Spirit help them – and us. Amen.
Hymn Go forth and tell, O church of God awake (R&S 574, MP 178)
Blessing
God grant us the wisdom to know what is important; help us to fully know the one we follow; help us to be people who don’t always look back; and help us always to be faithful and true.
And may your blessing rest on us now and all the days of our lives. Amen.
Prayers and other material (adapted) © Roots for Churches Ltd. Used by permission.