We read the Bible in bits and pieces. And that makes sense. We want to focus on the Word of God, and delve deep. But sometimes that chops up the story and we only get part of the story each Sunday. Last Sunday we heard hear Peter declare, “You are the son of God, the Messiah!” and Jesus blesses him. But when Jesus starts showing them that he will suffer and die and rise again, Peter could not get past the suffering and dying part. He couldn’t fathom a suffering savior so he says, “God forbid it Lord! This must never happen to you.” In this one conversation, Peter is both given eyes to see Jesus as the Messiah and then attempts to make Jesus into his own image of what the Messiah should be. Peter reveals himself as a blessed saint – and a selfish sinner… all at the same time.
Jesus blesses Peter for his proclamation but he will not tolerate anyone – not even Peter – however well-intentioned he may have been – interfering in God’s mission to save the whole world. Jesus blasts Peter with words that echo what he said to Satan after Satan tried to get Jesus to use power for his own sake. However, there’s one important difference. Jesus tells Satan to leave; he tells Peter to get behind him and then tells him – and all his disciples to follow. The word disciple means learner or student. And it’s really hard to learn if we don’t know how to follow.
Sometimes it’s hard to follow. I remember once when I was young trying to dance with my sister – and we both were trying to lead. We ended up stepping on each other’s toes and were both quite frustrated. Finally, she looked down at me – she’s quite a bit taller -- and said, “I’ll lead, you follow. Got it?” Yep. Message received. After that, we were able to whirl and twirl around the room.
We were just trying to dance. Jesus was teaching his disciples to pick up their cross and follow him – despite not knowing where it would lead. Jesus was teaching his disciples to trust in him.
Sometimes it’s hard to know how to follow – even when we want to. That’s how it was for Peter… and that’s a bit how it feels for us today.
We are in a liminal time, a time between the “old way” when people could shake hands and worship together in church without fear that we might accidentally infect someone else or become infected and the “new way.” Right now, we do what we can to help one another – protecting and loving our neighbor by wearing a mask and washing our hands and giving air-hugs instead of bear hugs. But we are still on the threshold of the door, at a time betwixt and between. And … just as when a door opens and we know there are new possibilities on the other side, we also realize that we aren’t there yet and we can only imagine what these possibilities may be.
So how do we follow Jesus? Is it just the same – or has it changed somehow?
I think the answer is yes. One thing that has changed is that technology allows us to reach out to one another in new ways. Not only are we able to worship online together – something I would never have dreamt possible – but we are also able to reach out to one another personally. For example, last week I found out that my aunt was entering hospice. Normally, I tried to visit her – even though she lives 5 hours away from me – but because of covid19, I couldn’t. But… because of technology – specifically Facetime – I was able to talk with and see Aunt Ethel. She couldn’t say much but I could see her smile and nod as my sister and I chatted with her and her daughter. We were able to connect and pray together in a new way.
But, while we can’t pick up another’s cross or take away the suffering of someone who is hurting because of covid19 or anything else; and we can’t erase the history of racial injustice and we can’t negate emotional stress or feelings of isolation, we can work to seek justice for our neighbor and we can help to bear the burden of another’s pain, another’s cross.
I’ve seen many of you step up again and again to help bear the burden of another’s pain. But, it’s also good to accept help from others and let others help bear your pain. After all, Jesus accepted the help of Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross. And Jesus was comforted by the women bystanders at his cross who stood and prayed, brought spices to his tomb and brought the news that Jesus had risen to the disciples. Like Jesus, we can accept the help, the love and the care of our brothers and sisters in Christ when we are in pain. We don’t have to carry our pain, our suffering, our “cross” alone.
Jesus calls us, invites us to follow him and invites the disciples – and us -- to pick up our cross. Jesus does this – not because he wants us to suffer. But, perhaps, Jesus invites us to pick up the challenges that come our way because Jesus knows suffering and pain do come into each life and choosing to pick it up, and trusting in Jesus to help us, will end up being the better way.
Pastor and author Susan Beaumont tells the story of her sister-in-law who received a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the family wanted her to get another opinion. Others favored researching new experimental treatments. But instead of striving against the disease, her brother and sister-in-law, after much prayer, decided to surrender to what appeared inevitable. Susan writes, “some may view this as a sign of weakness…. It wasn’t. Their surrender was an act of incredibly bravery.” It allowed them to make decisions and choices so that she could live meaningful life and they could prepare for what was to come. For example, she became a national spokesperson for the Alzheimer’s Association while she could still speak and they chose a home that she could live in even as the disease progressed. Some may have been bitter and considered this diagnosis an unfair cross that they had to bear, but Beaumont’s brother had a different explanation. He said, “This disease chose us but I choose it back… for everything that it can teach me about myself and our future.”1
Like Susan Beaumont’s brother and sister-in-law, we too have or will have challenges in our path. We may not feel as confident about picking up our cross as they did. And yet… Jesus has promised to be with you too – and you can trust in him. Thanks be to God. Amen.