God does not promise that the path of the disciple will be easy. Jeremiah feels the pain of rejection from those who do not want to hear what he has to say. Jesus declares that his words may bring stark division. The passage from Matthew suggests that the community of believers was quarreling over leadership, fearful of persecution, and alienated from nonbelieving family members. For Jesus, one’s commitment to follow the Father in heaven replaces stereotypical family values. Christian life is encountered on the cross, which all believers in some way share with the crucified one. Our discipleship is costly, but we need not be afraid, for God accounts for each hair on our heads. Though we may experience rejection, frustration, division, and death, God’s grace and love make us a new creation each day. Marked with the cross and filled with holy food, we are sent from worship to witness to Christ in the world.
