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But none of that matters to the folks who are standing around watching. People just "love a parade." That was true even in Jesus' day. The passage of Scripture we heard this morning comes from a section where Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, and sometimes that journey must have felt very much like a parade.
Luke tells us that great crowds were going along with Jesus. We know that when they got to Jerusalem the streets were lined with onlookers, probably even little kids up on grown-ups' shoulders. So maybe a parade is the best way to describe that journey to Jerusalem.
It certainly wasn't a funeral procession. Not even the disciples really understood that Jesus was going to die there. It wasn't a military march either. Folks weren't armed and marching in formation with Jesus. The scripture simply says that crowds of people were following Jesus - just going along.
So there they were, having a parade when Jesus stopped and rained all over the whole thing. He recognized the enthusiasm of the crowd that gathered to hear Him. They had heard Him talk about how all people, even the poor and despised, were invited to the great feast that was symbolic of the blessing of heaven. These people had high expectations that Jesus would lead them on a triumphant parade that would result in a great earthly kingdom.
Jesus realized that they were anticipating an easy road to divine blessings. These people were unaware of the struggle and suffering that was ahead for those who followed Jesus. He had to try to bring them to a more realistic understanding of what it means to be His disciples...his students, his committed followers.
Three times he spoke of those who could not be His disciples. He said they couldn't be His disciples if they didn't turn their backs on or, as most translations say, "hate," their own families in comparison to their love for him. The word He used did not actually mean to be vicious and angry but to "love less than." Disciples were to love no one more than they loved Christ.
He said they could not be His disciples if they didn't carry their own cross. A cross was not a piece of jewelry worn around the neck. It was Rome's cruelest means of execution. To follow Jesus meant to be prepared for death. Jesus certainly was.
He also said they could not be his disciples if they did not give up their own possessions. Jesus asked people to leave behind many things in order to follow on His way.
Now those were hard words. They still are. And how do we attempt to understand and apply them to our own lives today? In our society, at least, close-knit families aren't our sole means of culture, community and support any more. No one here faces crucifixion for any reason. And willfully becoming a destitute, homeless person is not what Jesus had in mind for anyone. So what does being a disciple today require?
Well, let's go back to the image of a parade. It's one thing to stand and watch. Parades tend to draw big crowds but the onlookers aren't "paraders." I wonder about us, sometimes. We've obviously learned how to draw a crowd...but that doesn't mean we're making disciples. To truly be disciples, we must follow - walk with - Jesus on the way and learn to live as he lived...right in the middle of the parade!
That means that, sometimes, we must be willing to become "clowns" for Christ. Clowns stand out to those who are watching the parade because they're so different. They do odd things that others don't do. And oftentimes people make fun of them, laugh and point, because the clowns are willing to be weird.
Last weekend, I spontaneously threw a bag in the car and headed out of town, just sort of going in no particular direction. I ended up in Mexico (Missouri). Between here and there I managed to wander through a couple of Amish communities. (No, they don't all live in Pennsylvania!) I was so entranced with the horse-drawn carriages, the men in wide-brimmed hats and the women in aprons and bonnets, you know. I even came back with some fresh baked bread and chocolate chip cake-like cookies that I kept telling people, "...were made by actual Amish people!" I realized later that my attitude had been pretty patronizing. "Oh, look at the cute little Amish people!"-- as if they were animatronic characters Disney has installed for my entertainment!
This week I did some research about the Amish...their traditions and beliefs. I can't say I understand it all or would choose such a life for myself, but I have developed a respect for them and the seriousness with which they take their faith beliefs. They believe that a simplistic life, separated from the world, is biblically mandated. They're not forcing their beliefs onto anyone else. It's we - the outsiders - who seek them out to gawk and stare and wonder about and, perhaps, ridicule. But they are committed to their way of life as a statement about their understanding of Christ and Christ's teachings. I found out myself that they will not sell their baked goods or quilts or woodworking on Sundays...even though I suspect they could double their weekend tourist trade. They worship and rest and spend time with family and friends on the Sabbath. They work hard and love their kids and stay engaged in an "in the moment" existence, free of the clutter with which we often fill our lives. They are willing to be seen as "fools for Christ," as clowns in the parade of disciples. They don't care. Good for them.
Obviously, our collective faith traditions and unfolding faith experience has not compelled us to live as the Amish do. But we might still be considered clowns by some. To the traditional, conservative church, we are fools indeed; we proclaim that God both loves and accepts gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people. That makes us oddballs indeed to many. At the same time, lots of folks in the queer (hear "diverse") communities would see us as clowns, too. Why on earth would we cling to a faith that has been used to shame us, to hurt us, to ostracize and condemn us. That's just nuts to many.
But being a disciple sometimes means being willing to be a "clown" for Christ. And it can also mean being willing to walk behind the horses!
It never seemed to fail, in most of the parades I marched in with the band, that we would end up behind some horse-mounted group. That meant that being in the parade put us at risk to sometimes step in something we'd much rather not! But that was the chance we took.
To be disciples, we have to take the chance that, along the way, being true to our beliefs and to our calling from Christ may mean "stepping in it." We can try to creatively avoid faith dilemmas. But it's not easy.
In monasteries there is special importance attached to serving one another at mealtime. In Benedictine orders, for example, there are always servers at table who bring the food, and the monks themselves are encouraged by the rule of St. Benedict not to ask for anything they need, but always to look out for what a neighbor needs. Supposedly, there was once such a monk who noticed, as he was eating, that a mouse had dropped into his bowl. What was he to do? He must pay attention to his neighbor's needs, not his own. So his creative solution was to call over the server and helpfully point out, "My neighbor hasn't got a mouse."
Some faith challenges, however, are not so easy to avoid. James Day is an ordained Methodist minister who works as a chaplain. He writes, "Every year or two I have the privilege of being asked to officiate at a wedding. What will I do if I'm asked to help a gay or lesbian couple celebrate their covenant relationship? This is not allowed under my denomination's Book of Discipline. If such a situation were to arise, my obligation to ministry to the couple would be in conflict with my obligation to my denominational connection." Others have lost their credentials for taking a stand on this issue.
Day says that such dilemmas are not new to his family. He is the fifth generation of ministers. His great-great grandfather felt compelled by his faith beliefs to set free slaves that he had inherited. James Day remembers, "Setting slaves free was not a popular thing to do. When slaves were freed, they joined a population of free people of color, everyone of whom was a reminder to other slaves and their owners that slavery did not have to exist. It was believed by many that the Bible justified slavery and if you accepted that idea, then my grandfather appeared to be attacking the Bible itself. Futhermore, in a society where economics made slavery attractive, this kind of stand was a hardship for many."
Would we - as a church and as individuals - be willing to face the personal risk of sticking to our faith beliefs in the face of strong opposition, hardship and even loss? Being willing to "walk behind the horses" is part of being a disciple.
And I don't just mean walking in that spot in the parade for a little while. I mean going the whole route...start to finish. Disciples stick it out the whole way. To do that may require us to let go of some other things that hold us back or interfere with our ability to move forward with Jesus.
I remember once, in high school, our band was going to be in a long parade. My best friend, Mary Tucker, had joined the percussion section not long before. Well, somebody had come up with the brilliant idea to take two big bass drums, turn them sideways and mount them on a harness so that someone could play them like timpani while they marched! And guess who the sucker was? My friend Mary.
I was marching not far behind Mary that day. She did O.K. for a while. But it was really hot out and after a while I saw her start to stagger a little. I could see her neck and face were beet red...she was huffing and puffing...starting to sag and then...boom! Down she went! That was the end of her parade. She just couldn't keep going under such a heavy load.
Jesus said, "...none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions." I think what that means, literally, is that we cannot be disciples unless we are willing to give up whatever possesses us.
For some of us, that means we need to stop carrying so many possessions, so many ambitions, so many desires and wants and lusts for things or status or applause. It means that, if something is separating us from moving forward in our relationship with Jesus, we need to remove it from our lives...even if it is difficult and painful. Otherwise, we may fall farther and farther behind Christ until we just give up and walk away all together.
I received a letter not long ago from someone who recently had to make a difficult choice to remove some very negative, judgmental influences from her life in order to continue moving forward with Christ. This person wrote, "Three years ago when I started this journey, I had no idea that I would finally be at peace with who I am and in sincere love with another woman. I had no belief that I could be happy, sincerely happy living in this body, on this earth that God created. NEVER would I have thought these things would come to fruition....
Look at me now!! I have a peace and contentment that only God can give. I have a soul that can only rejoice in living life to the fullest. I have a mind that is free from clutter and confusing messages from the hierarchy of 'religion.' I am finally free. Not only free in my mind and heart, but free in my soul. 'The truth shall set you free,' that is a very true statement. What it doesn't go on to say is what that truth and freedom will cost you.
I have cut all ties with my mothers and my sister. Not out of hate or spite, but for my health and the health of my soul. The loss was hard. The decision difficult, but necessary. The road will be rough, but God is 'the light unto my path.' 'Take up your cross and follow me," said the Lord. The only cross I carry now is much, much lighter than three years ago. I am changed."
Jesus Christ can change our lives. We can become disciples who want what Jesus offers more than anything or anyone else. But will we? Are we willing to join the parade...to be clowns if necessary, to walk a rough and risky road, to hang in there for the whole journey? That's what it takes.
Obviously, this church can draw a crowd. But will we be spectators on the sidelines...or will be we disciples who willingly join the parade? We each must decide that for ourselves. Amen.
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