DISCIPLESHIP

There's a knock at the door. You respond, and here is a small group, looking serious but friendly. What is this, you wonder, just before one of them asks if you read the Bible. Not from cover to cover, you think as you blurt out, "Well, bits of it." And you try to remember last week's (or any) Gospel passage.

NB. This is an imaginary scenario, not based on any particular religious approach.

They quote you Luke 14:26 (from today's Gospel) and announce they are forming a new religion based on this text. They explain God requires you to hate family members: "See, Jesus says unless you hate your relatives, you cannot be my disciple. We will be the 'Real Disciples Church'."

Back to reality; and we may be a bit shocked by this Gospel verse. Then we recall being told that the word translated here as "hate" does not mean "to reject" or "have strong negative feelings about". Luke uses the word in the Biblical comparative sense, meaning "to love less" in the context of preference.

On the other hand the word "love" is used hundreds of times in the New Testament (even AI doesn't have an exact number because of the different kinds of love and their translations). Jesus' real message is very clear and doesn't depend on just one verse. So no 'Jihad Jesus' that our imaginary doorknockers may have proposed. No, the core message of the gospels (particularly with Luke's Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son parables), is love.

Of course, easier said than done. And today's gospel suggests that prioritising and serious thinking is part of that process.

Crowds were following Jesus, kind of like Facebook followers, curious maybe, hoping something might be in it for them.

At this stage he is on his way to Jerusalem, to his passion and the cross. He is confronting these followers, letting them know what it entails to be a real disciple.

Unlike the clever salesman who highlights how his deal meets all your needs but doesn't show you the fine print, Jesus reminds us again about the cost, what we have to give up, about the cross. Those travelling with Jesus were invited, not just to be onlookers, but to be disciples. Were any of the crowd ready for the absolute commitment that Jesus asked? Are we?

Then we would truly be a real disciple.

John Mackay