Growing Spiritual Seed ......

 

Did Jesus bring fire and division, not peace within families and nations

 Firstly, was Our Lord really anti-family? Secondly what was the wider impact of Christianity on communities and nations – If the Jews had accepted Our Lord’s teaching could the Temple have been saved from destruction and the Jewish nation from a dispersal?

The context was that Our Lord was a Jew. He not only fulfilled the Jewish Law but built on it. He not only followed the Ten Commandments but he built on them.  

However, the Fifth Commandment is "Honour your father and your mother." Surely this commandment focuses on the importance of loving respecting our parents? 

Then again we remember that, when Jesus’s mother and brothers came to see Him in Capernaum (a nine hour walk from Nazareth!), they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. When Jesus was told that his family were outside waiting to see him he replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.” Luke 8:19-21 Matthew 12:46-50 This apparently contradicts the 5th Commandment 

Additionally, Our Lord also said that “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me (often translated as hate) is not worthy of me” Today’s Gospel reading was equally divisive 

However, the context for this is that the First Commandment is that ‘Thou shalt love the lord your God with all you heart mind soul and strength’. That then has to be the overall priority of life

 This apparent rejection of Jesus’s family surely was this about prioritisation. Even on the cross Our Lord demonstrated his love and care for his mother Mary by ensuring that she would have a home to go to and be cared for after his death. John 19:26-27,

Then we come to the division of families and communities. Religion is life changing and can be divisive. Many of us will know of families separated or divided by religion. St Francis of Assisi literally tore his family apart when he abandoned the family’s profitable cloth business and became a mendicant.  However, he was to set to transform the church. Out of that conflict came vital Christian regeneration in fortieth century 

The great hymn writer John Newton was a slave captain before becoming a clergyman! After his conversion he became a great opponent of the slave trade and worked for its abolition. Just imagine what his former work colleagues thought of him when he devoted his life to Christ and to wonderful hymn writing. He was to write over 280 including ‘Amazing Grace’ – Out of this conflict came the abolition of the shameful slave trade and wonderful hymns

If we turn to the division of nations we think of the Roman emperor Constantine converting to Christianity and then Christianization of the entire Roman Empire. It was the turn of pagan worshipers to be persecuted. Out of that conflict came a global Christianity and the Nicaean creed!

Some of our Lord’s teaching was quite counterintuitive. To the ‘Love our neighbour commandment’ He added “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”  "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  Matthew 5:44. and 5:38-40 38 

However, Proverbs 13:13 warns that us that "if you ignore teaching, you will be destroyed"   The Jewish authorities did ignore Jesus’s life-giving teaching and were destroyed in 70 CE as prophesied by Our Lord

Had the Jews ‘loved their enemies as themselves’. The Romans would never have been provoked to brutally suppression their revolt. The Temple would never have been destroyed and the Jewish nation never dispersed and stateless for 2000 years. 

The religious authorities of the time did not read the signs of a Messiah and never acknowledged that our Lord as the Messiah - or that his teaching was nation saving

There were two of the key signs of a prophet - their ability to prophesy and perform miracles. Our Lord prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70CE …. and his own death and resurrection. When John the Baptist queried whether Jesus was the Messiah, he responded by paraphrasing Isaiah’s prophesy in 35:5 ….. ‘the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’ (Matthew 5:11) Our Lord did ‘signs’ St John’s Gospel - grew out of his Book of  Signs / miracles.

While Judaism stagnated Christianity was to became a global religion. We must love our enemies as the great peaceful campaigners like Martin Luther King great peace leaders have. Only then we can move mountains of injustice and violence. 

We are celebrating the end of the World War II. As significant as the victory was the manner of the victory. We conquered with magnanimity and forgiveness. Out of the fire of conflict and conquest of World War II came the peace and security of the EU. Let us pray that there will be peaceful and equitable outcome to in Ukraine and Gaza

We must continue to love our enemies and bless those who curse us – just as our Lord commanded. Equally we must love our families but prioritise the first commandment’ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And our neighbours as ourselves” Amen 

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Gospel text Luke 12:49-56

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Times

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

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Textual analysis – of Luke 12:49-56: Fire, division, and discerning the times

This passage from Luke presents a Jesus who challenges conventional notions of peace and comfort, proclaiming a message that can bring about both transformative fire and difficult division.

1. Fire on the earth (vv. 49-50)

Jesus states, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" This "fire" represents the fervent, transformative power of God's presence and the coming of the Kingdom of God. It is a fire of renewal, purification, and challenging the status quo, which can shake up complacent lives and ignite fervent faith. The passage associates this "baptism" with the suffering Jesus must endure – his journey to the cross – to accomplish his mission and usher in the Kingdom.

2. Division, not peace (vv. 51-53)

Jesus states, "Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division". This division is not a malicious intent but a natural result of the Gospel's challenge to self-centred living and established priorities. Following Jesus requires a shift in allegiances and values, potentially dividing families as some embrace his teachings while others resist. True peace, the peace Jesus offers, isn't simply the absence of conflict but a deeper transformation that may initially create tension as it confronts injustice and calls for radical commitment.

3. Discerning the present time (vv. 54-56)

Jesus criticizes those who can discern weather patterns but fail to recognize the profound significance of his coming and the changes he brings. He urges his audience to "interpret the present time" (v. 56), to actively understand the implications of his ministry and the imminent arrival of the Kingdom of God. This call to discernment is crucial for recognizing the importance of responding to Jesus' message and preparing for the changes it necessitates.

Reflection

Luke 12:49-56 presents a powerful message. It reminds that following Jesus is not always easy. It demands radical commitment, may lead to difficult divisions as lives align with God's will, and requires awareness of the spiritual realities unfolding. This passage compels to examine priorities and ensure a desire for comfort doesn't eclipse a willingness to embrace the transformative fire of the Gospel.