Terms of Peace

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

“Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” Luke 14:25-35 

We have just spent the weekend as a world reflecting on the long lasting scars of war and the sacrifices of faithful men and women. Today, our world is still ravaged by war, greed and the need to take land and resources from others. Our worst human nature is found in the need to dominate and win at all costs. It has lead to tremendous loss, sorrow and abuse. As disciples, we are called to a different way of being, yet it too, will cost us much - our pride and possessions. 

Jesus is teaching his disciples about the cost of following him. There is much to let go of, especially our pride, our need to dominate and our need to be winners. We are being invited to be losers, those people who willingly negotiate terms of peace for the good of others. We are called today to lay aside our arrogant and self-righteous tendencies in order to let the light of God's love into the world. 

Today, I ask God to help me be an instrument of God's peace and healing. In this fractured and divided world, may we give up whatever it might cost, so that all can thrive and walk in the light of God's love.