CAMINANDO WITH JESUS: I'd Rather Not

By The Rev. Steven C. Rice

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When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he 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

Many years ago (when I still qualified as a young adult), the Diocese of Georgia sent me to a young adult ministries conference in Denver. I was one of a handful of young priests in attendance and the conference, to borrow a phrase from an earlier time, wasn’t really my scene. I met some lovely people, but I was ready to return home. The morning of the closing Eucharist, a gentleman approached me who I had not seen at the conference. He told me the preacher scheduled for the Eucharist was unable to preach. “Will you preach this morning?” he asked. I love preaching as much as any priest, but on this day, at this conference, there was no part of me that wanted to do this. My face was set for Georgia. I respectfully declined by saying, “I’d rather not.” The gentleman nodded and responded, “I know you’d rather not, but I am asking if you will.”

It’s fascinating to see the consistency of that refrain in the Gospels: I’d rather not. When James and John went to prepare a Samaritan village for Jesus, the people would not receive him. His face was set toward Jerusalem and not the Samaritan sanctuary at Gerizim. The Samaritans had terms before they would receive Jesus. His face did not turn from the cross, and he kept walking.

Potential disciples meet him on the way. The first promised to follow Our Lord wherever he was going. Jesus was doing to his death. Are you willing to die to yourself? I’d rather not.

To another, Jesus calls out, “Follow me.” The man asked for time to go bury his father, surely a reasonable request. Jesus’s response feels callous, “let the dead bury their own dead.” But we do not know if the man’s father had just died or if the man was looking a few years in the future and wanted to tie up any loose ends before following Jesus. The third man echoes this anxiety, asking for time to say goodbye to family, to put the kids through college, to max out the retirement fund, to see the Panthers win the Super Bowl, any number of conditions we put on Jesus Christ before we will follow him with our heart, soul, body and mind. Until then we say, “I’d rather not, as I have some important obligations that I need to tend to.” I know you’d rather not.

I am asking if you will.

The cross determined the steps of Jesus. From the time of his birth when the Magi brought gifts that foreshadowed his death, from the Presentation in the Temple when Blessed Simeon told the Blessed Mother that a sword will pierce her own soul also, Jesus Christ turned his face toward Jerusalem, toward his sacrifice which would be the only sacrifice that was ever efficacious. The Father sent him to the world in love and for love. Jesus Christ was obedient, even unto death.

Yet Our Lord understands us. In the garden, hours before his sacrifice, he prayed to the Father, “Let this cup pass before me.” I’d rather not!

But I will. Not my will, but thine. I will.

I did preach that closing Eucharist in Denver, and I never saw that gentleman again. I couldn’t tell you what my sermon was because the only one I remember was from that messenger. I know you’d rather not. I’m asking if you will.

Will you turn your face toward Jesus?

The Rev. Steven C. Rice is the rector of St. Timothy’s, Winston-Salem. Contact Fr. Steve at [email protected].