There is a verse found in Matthew that has always caused a deep emotional response from me. I'll be honest in saying that the deep emotional response was anger, sometimes confusion and disappointment. (If Mother Teresa had doubts then so can I :)) It's found in Matthew 8: 21-22 and in the NASV it reads like this:
Another of the disciples said to Him (Jesus), "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead."
I have often wondered what my response would have been if Jesus had said that to me. It breaks my heart ,even now, to think of not honoring my father's life once he passes as I love him so dearly and completely. I don't know if I would have continued physically following. You see, I have been known to, on occasion :), respond very impulsively in high emotion situations. I often choose to refuse to look for greater meaning in situations that "feel" extremely right or extremely wrong. I have struggled so greatly with this verse for so long. Today, I decided to hunt around for meaning and greater purpose beyond just the words and beyond the actions. I was struck when I read this verse in the message translation and have been brought to my knees by the beauty and depth of it all.
Another follower said, "Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father's funeral to take care of."Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life."
I now understand something far beyond the emotion. God's business is to offer life...eternal life. If this seems elementary I apologize. But, in these verses I have begun to see the urgency of pursuing those who do not know of true life. It's all about the priority that we put on others..on their eternal lives. Sure, it puts eternity into perspective. It's still very hard to swallow. But, missing opportunities to share life with the living is an even greater tragedy. It was never about the decision between his father and Jesus (which I always, maybe naively, thought). It is about the value and priority of God's call and mission to seek and show salvation to those who don't know about it. I will pursue life.
