Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” – Matthew 8:21-22

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 25, 2017): Matthew 8

In Sir Walter Scott’s “Gathering Song of Donald the Black,” the Clan Conuil is summoned to war. The emergency is immediate. The need for soldiers is extended to all, regardless of their current situation.

            Leave untended the herd,

                        The flock without shelter;

            Leave the corpse uninterr’d,

                        The bride at the altar;

            Leave the deer, leave the steer,

                        Leave nets and barges:

            Come with your fighting gear,

                        Broadswords and targes.

The military element of the call of God on our lives has not been missed by our poets. Consider Sabine Baring-Gould’s classic hymn which opens with the lines “Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching as to war.” The call of the Christian Clan is immediate and all-encompassing. The need is great, and the results, if we do not respond, is devastating. After all, although I admit that the influence of the people of God on this world seems to have been misdirected in recent years, God purpose is to save the world from itself; to replace hate with love and intolerance with acceptance. It is a purpose that should call from us all that we have.

And with that kind of an understanding, it is not hard to hear the call of Jesus to this follower following the words of Sir Walter Scott, “leave the corpse uninterr’d, the bride at the altar.” There will be time for that later, but right now we need to pick up the cross and enter the fight. We have a world to save.

Yet, that seems to far from the intent of this the request found in this verse. Every indication and understanding is that this person was another “wait a little” Pharisee. The promise is that I will follow, but not now. Wait just a little longer. It is likely that the man’s father wasn’t even sick, let alone dead. And Jesus was not asking for the man to make his final goodbyes to his parents. The disciples seemed to frequently return to their homes to visit with their wives and parents. What was at work with this potential follower was not grief, but rather, procrastination. Grief Jesus understands, but procrastination he stands against. Procrastination mirrors the situation Jesus spoke against in Laodicea. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

Or maybe this is what Master Yoda was trying to tell Young Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars.” “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Make your decision, follow me or don’t. But don’t put off the decision until tomorrow. That path leads only to spiritual death. And then you are no good to anyone.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Mark 2