“I have come to cause fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint 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 mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say ‘It is going to rain’, and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
Intro:
Jesus’ passion and love for humanity is the focus in this passage in Luke. (I do realize it does not read in exactly that context.) Jesus is reminding us that He was brought to earth to change the way we do life. Change is hard. Change is especially hard when it is tied to systemic systems of government that hold power over others and work to oppress those who are different from the status quo.
Where are you in your faith walk that asks you to stand against that status quo? Where are resurrections happening in your life? Are they pushing you closer to Jesus? Closer to loving your neighbor?
Let’s explore this together!