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."
Following Jesus means putting him first. It means putting him above the comforts of home. He must be more important to us than our most important family bonds. It isn't because such things are not valuable. It is rather that they cannot compare to our LORD Jesus Christ and his kingdom. Why does Jesus phrase things in such an extreme way? He does so because he knows our tendency to treat him as one priority among many. The degree to which we bristle at readings like these reveals how much this is the case for us. Someone who is truly all in for Jesus doesn't need to place any conditions on following him. Such a person does not say "let me go first" or "first let me". Such a one knows to seek first the kingdom and that whatever else is needed shall be added.
Following Jesus means embracing the fact that this entire world is exile and pilgrimage. Our true home is in heaven with the saints and angels around the throne. It means that we shouldn't expect a permanent place to lay our heads here below. We shouldn't work for that level of certainty and comfort amidst such temporary and passing things. We move toward a heavenly home, a new Jerusalem, the eternal sabbath rest of God. All that is surrendered here and now will be made new and more perfect in that place.
"If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves,
to rebuild it."
Some hearts become so tethered to this broken world that they have trouble desiring and moving toward that glorious place where every tear will be wiped away. We need to let go of all that lies behind and strain toward what lies ahead. We must learn to remember and place Zion and Jerusalem above all of our joy.
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
No one embodies this more than Saint Francis. May he pray for us today.
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