Today, was one such text. It is a really hard passage to read and yet one often quoted as an example of the cost of discipleship . . . but in spite of the spiritualising not one that is really adhered to.
In this text, Jesus says, “Whoever does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26)
Just going to make a quick aside here — once again even in this negative appeal notice the patriarchal bias in the text, to hate “wife and children”. Obviously, this entreaty was aimed at men not at a general audience. Even in this the women are invisible except as in relationship to a man.
I find this one of the unpalatable texts. I will say quite openly that I don’t hate father and mother, spouse and children or my sisters. I know very few people who do and, those, exceptions usually have a reason that is nothing to do with following any spiritual path.
The text continues by offering some wise advice about estimating the cost before embarking on any venture (28-32). Good sound advice which I’m sure most people adhere to from time to time, I know I have. Perhaps phrased in contemporary times as “know what you are getting yourself into”. Although often, however much one tries to estimate the cost, there are still those unknown and unimagined consequences that are encountered. Nevertheless, the advice is worth heeding and counterbalances recklessness.
Today’s reading does not end with this advice but circles back to where it started, “none of you can become my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions.” Of course, in the time it was penned many of the possessions would be people — “wife and children”. It is another unpalatable verse. Give up all our possessions? It doesn’t even make a lot of sense to become homeless, hungry and destitute.
So, when faced with the dilemma of unpalatable verses I tend to look at the wider picture presented in the Bible and even in the culture I live in.
So, hating “father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters” seems to go against most of Jesus’ teaching with its focus on love:
Jesus cared for his mother even while dying on the cross,
Jesus celebrated at a wedding with family,
Jesus intimated that others will become his siblings.
In contemporary times, much is made of love, family and caring for each other. Hating family is not esteemed as a high value in any circles.
And instead of giving up all our possessions, I read much more focus on sharing and hospitality, caring for the poor and outcasts. I know that in our Celtic tradition the stories of the desert mothers and father and their wisdom impact us. That was their special calling but not for everyone.
For most people it is their “possessions” which allow them to help, love and serve others. Certainly, many stories in the gospels show how Jesus was cared for by those who shared their homes and food with him.
I think what I want to say in all the above is that there are sometimes texts which don’t sit comfortably. They cause unease. Even they cause guilt or a feeling of inadequacy as they are largely ignored. So, I’m going to say quite openly, that today I am rejecting the ethos of a text that tells me to hate and to have no possessions.
I am going to follow the larger edict of Jesus to love and to use my possessions to love practically by caring and serving others.
(Photo: A cluster of butterflies at a campground in PA -2021)
