Jesus was quite popular at times. “Large crowds” followed him around Galilee, according to Luke. Jesus was not looking for popularity as such, but for a dedicated band of disciples committed to extending his mission into the wider world. To avoid wasting time trying to train uncommitted hangers-on, Jesus challenged all his followers to take a realistic assessment of what it might cost them to become agents of the Kingdom of God. Reading this Sunday’s gospel passage from Luke 14, you might well wonder how any of them stuck with him at all. Well actually, it was a miracle in itself, and still is. Only God can turn ordinary people into disciples, and most of us are reluctant responders to His call. How has the church survived so long???? It certainly won’t continue much longer unless miracles of disciple-making happen again, and again, and again.
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Howard Pilgrim