6th day of Lent
A Cruel-Sounding Call
Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.  Matthew 8:22

This hardly sounds like the same Jesus who has compassion on the crowds, heals the sick, feeds the hungry, and welcomes the outcasts.  But the concern here is not responding to human need, but discipleship.  Discipleship is a serious matter, demanding an immediate and complete response.  Let nothing stand in the way of following Jesus.

What gets in the way of my following the Lord?  Way too many things of far less concern than burying a loved one.  There are bills to be paid, a sports game to watch, a need to check in on Facebook, a favorite television show to view, and on and on the list goes.  I know I fall short, and this reminds me of the need to improve in this area.  During Lent people will often "give something up" as part of their spiritual discipline.  This can be a good thing, especially when what we give up creates time for us to be stronger disciples.  What, in your life, gets in the way of following Jesus?  Can something be done to change this?  Remember, discipleship is a serious matter.  We ought treat it as such in our lives.