Breaking the Word

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable…

 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  (Lk 15:1-10)

Jesus’ story picks up turns and twists. He was having a great following on his way to Jerusalem. A great crowd of disciples were following him. Suddenly we see sinners and tax collectors. They come only to listen to him. Probably they thought that they could not be his disciples. Pharisees and scribes would not make disciples of Tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus welcomes the sinners and eats with them. Both welcoming and dining with reminds of relationship and fellowship. Religious leaders of Jesus’ times would not relate or show fellowship with these people. If Jesus was a religious leader and Jesus claims to be one (I have come to gather the lost; I have come to bring the kingdom of God; He spoke so much about God as the Father etc) then how could he do this.

The parables are answers to this doubt. His religion is not to keep the purity of religion by avoiding the polluted. His religion is not dissociating from the sinners. His religion is not an exclusive one. He has come to gather the lost. He gives the first and the important place to the lost. He has come to go after the lost and seek the lost.  He has come to celebrate with the lost and gather them back to God. 

Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, "If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple…

In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. (Lk 14:25-33)

Jesus is journeying towards Jerusalem from Galilee. He is sure of his destination. He is also sure of what awaits him there in Jerusalem. As he turns back he sees great crowds following him. He is amazed at the sight of such a following. He wonders at their intention and their goals. He wants to make sure of it.

He tells them that they should not give importance to relatives. His journeying is not going to make a human family. His journey is not to build a society. (no one should follow with the intention of building a family with relatives). The followers should even hate the future. They should not bother about their own life.

The followers should be ready to carry the cross. The journey is not going to end up in a celebration of a great gathering. Discipleship is in carrying the cross. Cross, at the time of Jesus, signified death, loneliness, rejection, insult etc. The discipleship also meant giving up wealth and possession. Yes, discipleship meant: no relations, no possessions and only cross.