Today’s Gospel marks a turning point in Luke’s story of Jesus. He is going to Jerusalem because the time is drawing near for him to be taken up into heaven. He responds resolutely to God’s plan, cost him what it may. The disciples he wants to be with him are those who follow him willingly. There are some warnings here: to one who says he will follow Jesus wherever he goes, there is the warning that he has nowhere to lay his head: to another who puts a family relationship first, he warns of the priority of the Gospel and the kingdom of God. To another he warns that once he has put his hand to the plough there is no turning back.
There is a programme for the follower of Jesus. Our priority must be with the kingdom of God. There are many other ‘loves’, but they must all be held together by this priority. “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Rev Adelene Mills BD BA Dip.Ed