This tale is about a group of people who followed Jesus and after his crucifixion left Jerusalem in order to set up a community where they could faithfully follow the teachings of Jesus. They set out and found such a place and lived without contact from outsiders. One day a group of missionaries found them and realized that this group of people thought that Jesus was still dead. They eagerly began to tell them of the resurrection and a celebration broke out. During the celebration one of the missionaries noticed that the leader of this group was no present. He set out to find this man and the reason he was not celebrating. He found him in a hut at the edge of the village on his hands and knees weeping and praying. The missionary told this man that this was a day to celebrate and questioned his current disposition. The leader of the community said that yes this was a day to celebrate but he was troubled about the affect this news might on subsequent generations. He explained that his community had given up everything to follow the teachings of Jesus knowing that one day they would meet the same fate as the one they followed. It was a sacrifice. But now with this news those that come behind might only follow to ensure salvation, not because it is a sacrifice. He did leave to join the celebration, but the missionary stayed behind pondering his words.
This tale strikes a chord in me personally as I have tried to raise this same subject in ministry many times. Too often we are quick to jump to the end and miss out on what it takes to get there. Part of it is my makeup, but part of it is a reaction to the apathy that I see in many people. There is a cost to following Jesus and it should not be diminished just because we know the final outcome. What a very appropriate thing for us to ponder during lent.
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