SHADYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Lord Jesus, how can the dead bury their dead? They themselves are dead, and dead people can’t do anything.  Anyone who thinks about these words has to be confused.

To make matters more perplexing, you said this to a disciple who just wanted to bury his father before he followed you wherever you were leading.  But you essentially said, “No, follow me right now.”  So this guy couldn’t even give his dead father a funeral if he was going to follow you.  Really?

I seriously doubt that you were all that concerned about our need to bury our loved ones.  Perhaps the point is just that you are not impressed with our urgent excuses for not following you into the missions you have given us.  I can always find another urgent reason not to do what I know I need to do.  But if I live under the tyranny of the urgent, I am already dead. Amen.