Pentecost +15 Sunday – C4

Pentecost +15 Sunday – C4

Years C
Luke 14:25-33

After looking at ourselves in the world around us, here is a big "therefore": None of you can continue learning or growing in experience of G*D through me if you allow your possessions to possess you.

This builds on a better language choice for translating what is so often recorded as "hate" of family. "Preferring" a person or persons over our relationship with G*D blocks our growth into G*D, our imitation of Christ.

Here is a story to exemplify these points:
A pilgrim settled down to sleep one night at the edge of a village - soon an excited villager appeared saying 'Give me the diamond, give me the diamond '. 'What diamond?' asked the pilgrim. Villager replied 'I have had a dream that you have a diamond of great value and if I asked you for it you would give it to me and I should be rich forever."

The pilgrim reached into his bag and pulled out a stone. 'You may certainly have it', he said and settled down again to sleep

The villager looked at the stone in amazement for it was the largest diamond he had ever seen. He took the diamond and walked away.

He tossed and turned all night unable to sleep, and the next day he return to the pilgrim and said 'give me the wealth that makes it possible for you to give away this diamond so easily.'

= = = = = = =

spinning on his heel
Jesus "told" a following crowd
exactly what they didn't want to hear

a prioritized focus
is needed for continued growth
into and out of an expansive and expanding love

so much distracts
even literally following good
can keep us from completing our heart's desire

so much possesses
power to attract our limited attention
and we stick to what we have already known forever

freedom is
another word for nothing left to lose
this freedom this presence of G*D is our unsticking place