Thursday 21 October Holy Communion

Reading Ephesians 3

A Prayer for the Ephesians

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family ^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Gospel Luke 12

Not Peace but Division

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."

Sermon

Gospel shows danger of taking passage out of context. Did Jesus not come to bring peace? Do we not offer one another sign of peace? Is the gospel not the good news of love? How come then Jesus says he has come to bring fire on earth. Division not peace. Strife not harmony.

Taken in context – chapter all about coming of Kingdom and our preparedness. Parable of Rich Fool – this night your life will be demanded of you. Do not worry about your life – the flowers and birds are looked after, so will you be. Servants waiting for return of their master from wedding banquet – be ready for Son of Man will return at a hour when you least expect him.

So there is great responsibility – everything will not be sweetness and light. There is a dark side to the Kingdom – judgement for the unprepared. There is also inevitable division and selection. Self-selection probably. Those who turn to God, and those who turn away for their deeds are evil.

Jesus here tells disciples to be alert and respond to urgency of the times. They must be ready, even at expense of causing divisions within own families. Jesus did not come to bring division and strife, but that may be the inevitable result of his coming.

What then is the fire? Fire of Holy Spirit. Fire of purification. And suffering – disciples will have to suffer, as indeed did Jesus himself at his crucifixion.

So Luke is warning his readers, in the words of Jesus, to be prepared – ready to suffer, ready for difficult times. The end of the race is in the Kingdom of God – but there are many hurdles, pitfalls and diversions across out path along the way.