Facing Jerusalem

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he 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 9:51-62

There are things we have to face, even when we are reluctant and afraid. We all have our own small Jerusalems. They are often places of great sorrow and loss, of remember joys now destroyed. Or simpler things like the boss's office or the principal's office. And it can be scary, like facing surgery and the unknown consequences that follow. The followers of Jesus tried to convince him not to go, and others refused to go with him. Love demands two things; we go with the people we love and we face the hard days with them, as they will for us.

Precious Savior, you set your face to Jerusalem

knowing pain, sorrow and death awaited you

yet for love of the world, you went there anyway

you took our shame and made it our redemption.

We are sometimes fearful and reluctant to follow you

yet you promise blessing upon blessing if we do

you understand our fears, our worries and our humanity

and respond with love beyond all understanding.

Help us today to follow you to the hardest places

where we find nothing familiar and no comfort

so we might carry you love to the neglected ones

and know your living presence despite our fears. Amen.