10th Sunday after Pentecost

Jesus said: “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division!”

These are some hard words to hear.
This is one of those readings that many of us would rather skip over:
Pretending that it’s not really there.

And this one is especially difficult because Christians:
And Episcopalians in particular like to promote peace:
Welcome: Openness: Hospitality.
Not Division.

It’s confusing.
And at first glance, it’s not what we want to hear Jesus say.

So we better take a deeper look.

First: Let’s look at it historically.
Luke, the Gospel writer, is dealing with a lot of confused people at the time of
writing this Gospel.
And Luke isn’t exactly writing to us.

He’s writing to people who were just beginning to learn about what it meant to
be a follower of Jesus.
Many of the people he was addressing were turning form their pagan religions:
To become followers of Jesus.
And that choice would have caused division:
Even among their own families.

And not only that:
We have to take into account WHEN Luke is writing:
He’s writing in the 80’s:
Which is quite a bit after the death and resurrection of Jesus:

At that time, many people thought that Jesus would have come back again:
That the second coming would have already taken place.
But it didn’t.
So Luke keeps this in mind as he writes.

He’s trying to remind people to remain faithful:
No matter how long or intense the wait, or the conflict.

And there was certainly conflict during this time:
Especially for Christians.

As difficult as it is for us to hear these words from Jesus:
His words were truer than true during Luke’s time.

Jesus said: “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 mother,
Mother in law against her daughter in law and daughter in law against mother in
law.”

At first: It’s shocking.
But think about it:

These early Christians:
The early followers of Jesus,
Truly did leave their families,
They were baptized as individuals.

It wasn’t like it often is today:
Where whole families choose to baptize their children and babies.

It was a big deal:
(And still should be, by the way)
But imagine how it might cause dissention in a family:
If only one chose to leave and be baptized in Christ.

Jesus wasn’t saying that he wanted division to come to God’s people:
He was just saying that he knew that there would be.
He knew that there would be people who would turn their backs not only on him,
but on those who followed him.

Jesus wasn’t saying that he WANTED to split up families:
He was saying that it might be a part of what it means to live in obedience to
God’s call.
He was saying that he wanted his people to live out the two greatest
commandments:
To love God and one another:
To expand and grow the family of God:
And when he didn’t see that happening:
He cried out in anger.

Jesus was saying that following those two great commandments:
And walking the way of the cross:
Might lead followers to encounter hostility and rejection:
Even from those they love.

And he said all this because being in obedience to God’s call:
Walking the way of the cross:
Being baptized in the life and death of Christ:
Is a lot more than just getting some water poured on your head:

It’s a way of life that changes everything:
Maybe even our relationships.

This might make us uncomfortable.
And actually,
It probably should.
Because the life that Jesus brings:
The life that Jesus offers is THAT important.

But it also shouldn’t scare us.
It CAN actually be a source of comfort.
Just as Jesus’ words were a source of comfort for those that Luke was writing to.

To us, the division of families might not seem all that comforting.
But for Luke’s readers it was:
Because they were ALREADY disowned by their families.

They were already divided, due to their decisions to be baptized and live lives as
followers of Christ.
To read Jesus’ words would comfort those readers,
Because it would affirm their decision,
And urge them to continue, despite the trials of the Christian life.

And this is exactly what today’s Epistle is getting at too.
That life is hard.

That life is complicated, and messy.
Dissention and division, even among families is real.

Even life in Christ is hard, complicated, and messy:
In fact, at no point:
In any Gospel:
Does it say that human life or Christian life is perfectly easy with no challenges or
pain.

And while we may be divided against some:
We are at the same time united and surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses:
Those who remind us to trust and to stay faithful.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews points to stories of faith:
A number of biblical stories:
Examples of people trusting in God:
Whose trust enables them to face the trials of life faithfully.
And not only that:
But to face the trials of life with God and one another.

Today’s readings give us a harsh slap of reality:
That no matter how much we might wish it:
The Christian life of faith can’t be captured with a sentimental greeting card:
It’s much more complicated than that.

And even though this Jesus is the same one:
Who at his birth the angels proclaimed:
“Glory to God in the highest and peace to God’s people on earth,”
Our readings today remind us that Jesus brings not our version of peace,
But God’s peace.

Which remember:
Surpasses ALL understanding.

Amen.