be afraid, be very afraid!

It is somewhat ironic that in our gospel reading Jesus opens with the words, “Do not be afraid, little flock,” and then goes straight into the words that we are perhaps more afraid of than anything else Jesus ever said, “Sell your possessions, and give away money to the poor.”

Afraid of it? Well I am. I’m afraid of it because I don’t do that much of it. I’m afraid of it because I’m scared that maybe we are supposed to take it literally, that maybe we are supposed to give away all we own. All of it. Afraid that maybe every CD I buy, or each meal in a restaurant or the new clothes dryer, is a sign of my lack of faith in God, of my unwillingness to give it all away and trust God to supply what I need for life.

I can wriggle out of my discomfort to some extent, especially in this case. Clearly it says it is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom, therefore sell and give. It doesn’t say sell and give in order that you might receive the kingdom. And while that’s true that doesn’t entirely dampen down the uneasiness.
http://www.laughingbird.net/ComingWeeks.html