Pillar Journal
Lent, the 7-week span including 6 Sundays where we set our hearts and minds with Christ to the cross and its implications for our lives and for the world.
Lent, the 7-week span including 6 Sundays where we set our hearts and minds with Christ to the cross and its implications for our lives and for the world. We’re borrowing a line from Luke’s Gospel to guide our Lenten journey. Jesus says, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Most of us don’t plough fields at all, let alone by hand, so the image can get lost in translation. If you’re ploughing a field (imagine a rototiller in your garden) trying to keep the rows straight and you look back to admire the work you’ve already done, your row will
necessarily become crooked.
It won’t be a row at all, you’re not really fit for ploughing.
We’re borrowing that image for our Lenten journey we’re calling it “No looking back.”
The Gospel context for our Lenten line belongs to Jesus, he was calling disciples to himself, orienting them to a life on mission with God in His kingdom. It seemed like most of them were willing. As Luke writes, “someone said to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’” There was something compelling about Jesus. There were things about his life and behavior that attracted crowds and all kinds of curiosity. He does still. There was a buzz about him and to be given access to him was a stunning honor and an incredible privilege. Some were willing to go wherever Jesus went, for folks who didn’t travel much or really, for that matter, ever, “to follow Jesus wherever” was a stunning claim.
Others were willing too but had reasons to delay, one said, “First let me go bury my father,” arguably the most significant and holy role a son plays in 1st century Israel. That was important work he had to get done. Another said, “first let me go say farewell to those at my home.”
Hard to argue with a simple goodbye. In each case, in other words, “Now isn’t the best time. I’m willing, it’s just that there are a few other things on my plate right now. I’ll catch up with you.” And then Jesus offers our line, “‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”
No looking back.
I’m guessing most of us who read a Pillar journal during Lent are all kinds of willing to follow Jesus wherever he goes. We’re captivated by his person, we’ve experienced the blessing of his grace, we’re in love with his heart and want to share in his mission. But, if we’re honest, there are some things that get in the way, some important matters we need to attend.
The commitment to follow Jesus wherever he goes isn’t just a promise to end up where he does, that would be easier. The commitment to follow Jesus wherever he goes isn’t just to end up where he does, it’s a commitment to go the way he goes, not just where he goes, but to walk with him, to be with him, to be like him.
We don’t really get to say “we’d like the empty tomb, but we’d like to avoid the cross.” We don’t really get to say, “we look forward to your coming kingdom, we just don’t want to sacrifice or suffer or experience, really, any inconvenience at all.”
This Lent we’re inviting you again to the basic realty of Christian discipleship, to follow Jesus wherever he goes,
No looking back.
It will cost us something, we’ll have to give up of ourselves, we’ll have to concede playing by the rules of the world’s power games and instead go the way of humility and gentleness, patience and grace.
We’ll have to give up the need to be right to win an argument for the sake of the invitation to be like Jesus in love.
No looking back.
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Join us.
