Scripture: Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 • Jeremiah 23:23-29 and Psalm 82 • Hebrews 11:29-12:2 • Luke 12:49-56
This week's gospel has Jesus telling us "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!" So much for the meek and mild Jesus. This is a face of Jesus which John Dominic Crossan an refers to as the apocalyptic preacher... or is it?
What does Jesus mean, and why does he tell us this? See Teresa Berger's "Disturbing the Peace." What is God's peace?
There certainly is division in our country today. Given the gospel lesson for this week, how are we to deal with this division, and how should we interact with those whose opinions differ from ours, especially when the dialogue is heated or personally offensive? When there are natural disasters, or death from cancer or violence, is it a consequence of our actions or withdrawal from God, or the acts or withdrawal of God in judgment? Consider Bruce Epperly's Adventurous Lectionary lesson for this week in Lectionary C , and Divine Withdrawal and Human Suffering
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