I have a confession. There are parts of the Bible, yes, even words of Jesus, that I just don’t like. Now, I know that sounds bad coming from a pastor. We’re supposed to say, “I love every verse!” Every 31,102 verses…I just love them all. But then comes along our two lections this morning. Focusing first on the gospel text, Jesus says things like: “I came to bring fire to the earth…Do you think I came to bring peace? No, I tell you, but rather division…” And my first instinct, perhaps yours as well, is to say ‘that’s NOT the Jesus I like’. I much prefer the Jesus who blesses the children…don’t you? The Jesus who heals the sick; the Jesus who stills the raging waters. But this Jesus we hear from this morning? The one with fire in his voice and division on his lips? This Jesus is…uncomfortable…unlikable. This Jesus is…NOT the Jesus I like! How about you? What Jesus do you prefer? If we’re honest, I think, most of us want a Jesus who keeps the waters calm. A Jesus who says, “Don’t worry, everything’s fine,” and then hands us a warm cup of tea. We want a Jesus who affirms us, comforts us, and gently says, “You’re doing great…no need to change.” And, this morning, we are reminded that discipleship does not work that way. Sadly, we know that the Church can slip into that pattern too. Where the overarching goal is to be nice; to avoid conflict; to focus on keeping everyone happy. Now to be sure, that’s a version of peace…but it is a comfortable peace. And that is NOT the peace that Jesus is calling us to this morning. Do you ever behold what is really happening when we pass “the Peace of Christ” during worship? It is fellowship…yes; it is community building…yes. But beyond that it is authentic bridge-building; the work of reconciliation where there is fracture; the living out of forgiveness where there is harm. Just like any community, there are fractures from time to time in a church, and when the peace of Christ is passed, it is that action of moving towards God’s reconciling peace. It is about bridge-building and the work of forgiveness. And we do this because we can NEVER begin to imagine hosting the Prince of Peace here…until we are a community moving in the direction of reconciliation, forgiveness and love.
In this morning’s passage, Jesus is talking to people who think the awaited Messiah will be a kind of unifier of the nations. They imagined the Messiah to bring Israel together, defeating Rome, and restoring peace. But Jesus says: “I came to bring fire…”. We discussed earlier in the service how in scripture, fire can mean judgment, purification, and even the burning presence of God that refines. Fire allows for the separation of the pure metal from the dross: what is pure and good remains. And what is false…what is waste is consumed. Fire allows Jesus’ followers to move further towards the Kingdom of God that is not just a ‘polite/ nice Kingdom’, but rather is a Kingdom that is based in justice, forgiveness, and God’s reconciling love.
Now a few words of caution as we move forward. This is not a “doomsday text”. Jesus is not saying, “I want to watch the world burn.” Rather, he’s saying, “My presence will expose the truth. And that truth will (initially) divide.” The fire Jesus brings is the fire of costly discipleship; the costly living of a true faith. The fire of telling the truth in love. The fire of doing the right thing…even when it is challenging, costly, and dividing. It is the kind of truth that clarifies our priorities, burns away our idols, and forces us to decide: Will I follow Jesus, even if it costs…divides…separates?
Another word of caution is about peace. Jesus is not against peace. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace for a reason. But he is against the kind of peace that prioritizes comfort. A peace that is merely avoidance; really just the ‘easy way out’; really just comfort. Perhaps you can see these elements of peace alive in the world today? The peace that pretends everything’s fine when injustice goes unchecked. The peace that comes from ignoring hard truths. The peace that settles for “niceness” instead of calling for transformation. Indeed, when the light of Christ shines, it exposes things we would rather keep in the dark. To be sure, some will welcome it; but Jesus teaches that most will resist it. And that resistance creates division…even within families.
I’m wondering where you might see this kind of peace igniting in the world today? Where are people actively seeking God’s peace by living a costly life of discipleship? If you, also, have been following the work of the General Council of the United Church, there have been examples of the living of this kind of peace…this costly discipleship living in action. Every three years, the General Council meets to further the broader work of the church, adopt motions, and ultimately refine who the Church is. This year’s gathering was the 45th such assembly of General Council that met in Calgary, Alberta. On August 8th, as the meeting opened, this peace was witnessed in action. Our General Secretary, the Rev. Dr. Michael Blair, issued a formal apology for harm caused to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. Speaking to the deep harm caused by the church, he humbly said "We, The United Church of Canada, express our deepest apologies to all those who have experienced homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia within The United Church of Canada". The apology acknowledged the church's failures to celebrate and affirm the diversity within these communities, and expressed sorrow for the ways the church had wounded people. The apology was part of our church’s broader commitment to "radical love and affirming people of all identities.” Blair concluded saying: “We have failed to celebrate and delight in all of God’s beautiful Creation. We have wounded people instead of seeking wholeness. We are sorry.”
And, it all begins with the beautiful word “sorry”, doesn’t it? Akin to our work of reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples of Canada, we also have a legacy as a church that requires the work of reconciliation with 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Sadly, we know that our churches have functioned more as ‘gatekeepers’ rather than ‘welcomers’ of all of God’s creation. Many of our churches fly pride flags as we seek this peace. Many offer a welcome when we gather, like at Northwood, to all expressions of human sexuality; however, we have we still have much work to do that begins with apology, and continues with reconciliation, and bridge-building. I think that it was a powerful moment in our United Church as we witness the work of this deep peace in our church.
It has been interesting for me to see this work alive in people’s families. Most families today have a person or several people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. This can be a challenge for families… accepting them…including them…loving them. One family I know that was divided when the son came out as being gay. It caused exclusion and people were silenced. Yet…the family was blessed with a wise elder who called them to a higher level of peace. Challenges word were offered: “why does this matter? This is my grandson…I will always love him. This is your child, how could you not love him?” That person was a beacon of God’s refining fire; God’s refining truth; God’s peace that began anew.
This call of Jesus is a challenging one to our living. It is not one based in a comfort that allows for jokes to be offered at the cost of another; that allows for the exclusion of some at the cost of another; that allows for the harm or oppression of some. This call to peace is a costly peace; a refining fire of discipleship that calls us to walk the challenging road of a love of justice that allows for God’s reconciling love to abound. As only Jeremiah can speak, he says: “God’s word is like fire!”
Sometimes, in our world, (back then and today) it seems like the easy way out is ‘the way’ we follow. We are stymied. We wonder what difference can I make? And it is so easy to have our words and actions silenced. Yet, this morning, we are reminded of this deep peace of God that Jesus brings. A peace that calls upon us to live the costly life; to offer the challenging words of justice; to love when it is not easy.
We haven’t spent much time with the Jeremiah text; however, I don’t want to exclude it. Jeremiah reminds the people of Judah that, even when they are about to fall, God is near. God is never far away. And God’s living word exposes and shatters every falsehood. To live through the divisions of the present with grace and seek God’s costly peace that is rooted in God’s reconciling love.
May we live and move in this direction of peace.
Amen.