Balancing Obligations
What makes a cult? One of the first things I look for is whether or not there is a clear attempt to separate people from their families.
And we know that for Christians, the obligation to family is paramount. “Honor thy father and mother” made the ‘top ten” after all.
So why does Jesus tell these folks who would be followers that if they want to go “bury” their parents (meaning to care for them until death, as commanded in the Old Testament) or even to say farewell, then they are not fit for the Kingdom and, hence, not fit to be his disciples? Click here to read Sunday’s Gospel lesson.
First, we need to be clear that we cannot take this one text to nullify the clear teaching of the Scripture regarding love and care for family. There must be something else going on here that we are missing.
There are a couple of possibilities. This may be parallel to the story of the rich man who asked Jesus what he must do to be saved and Jesus told him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor and follow him. It seems clear that this was not a command for everyone, everywhere, but rather Jesus’ insight that for this man, it was his wealth that took the place of God in his heart and life. It may be that for these folks an obsessive commitment to family duty was a barrier. Alas, sometimes even very good things can take a place in our lives where only God belongs and so must be reined in.
Another possibility is the context. Jesus has been gathering his disciples and preparing them for what is to come. He has foretold his death and resurrection. And the very next verses tell of the sending of 70 disciples into the countryside to preach and heal, declaring the good news. So, as they were preparing for what would be a challenging task, they needed a singular focus. In this case, the call is not to permanently abandon family commitments, but for this moment and this task, it would be necessary to put those good and Godly obligations aside.
I think the central point here is that when it comes to following Jesus, we need to be careful that nothing, not even things that appear good, can get in the way. Only when our care for family, or other earthly obligations, are under the banner of our love for God will it all harmonize.
What threatens to take that place in your life?
This column appeared in the June 26, 2022 edition of St. John’s eNews. Click here for the complete issue.
If you are reading this at a different time, you may click here for the current eNews.
