The Third Sunday of Pentecost

Following Jesus isn’t a program of self-help, by which we gain greater control over our lives in order that we might achieve the success and happiness for which we long.  As we learn from this week’s reading from Luke (Luke 9:51-62), following Jesus is about giving up our lives, surrendering our lives, and learning to take up the life of Christ.  Jesus says, if you want the life that really is life, if you want to be your truest and best self, your God created self, if you want to be free, then you must let the old, self-centered, control oriented life go, and take up your cross, and follow in his way.  Discipleship is a long-obedience in the same direction in which we learn to let go of all that distracts and preoccupies us in order that we might walk in the way that Christ has opened before us, so that we might experience the expansive vision that God has for our lives.