Kingdom Building

August 17, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 12:49-56

‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
   and son against father,
mother against daughter
   and daughter against moth
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
   and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ –Luke 12:49-52

Sound familiar? Taking sides seems to be the norm in our society today. What is Jesus trying to say here? What is the benefit of such chaos? Jesus grew to manhood during Roman rule where Jews could practice their religion if they did not make waves against the Roman Empire, which showed no mercy to anyone who crossed them. Jesus learned early the need to go along to get along. Much of his ministry was targeted at teaching his fellow Jews that going through the motions of religion was not living up to the covenants God has established with them, covenants regarding how to live and more importantly how to love, which in many ways were diametrically opposed to the ways of the Roman Empire.

I do not know Jesus’ motivation for allowing or encouraging division. I do know that division challenges the ennui* resulting from going along to get along. Perhaps Jesus was stirring up divisiveness to refocus God’s followers to take up their calling to foster God’s rule rather than Rome’s. Perhaps the divisiveness we are experiencing in our world today can be channeled into positive energy to lift us out of the ennui of our lives and help us to take up Jesus’ vision.

‘Why do we fast, but you do not see?
   Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?’
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day,
   and oppress all your workers.
Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
   and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
   will not make your voice heard on high.
Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke? –Isaiah 58:3-4, 6

Prayer: Lord, let your Spirit flow through us channeling discord into energy for creating a just world. Amen.

*Afeeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.