Fire and Rain

Jesus says he wants to shake things up, and I think he means it.

Jesus said, "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! 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?" - Luke 12:49-56

There is no middle of the road position here in to today's Gospel reading.  Jesus is taking a stand, and he knows it is going to be unpopular.  People will be at each other's throats.

It is time to force people to opposite ends so the truth can come out.

Division and polarity produce conflict and conflict forces action.  Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

If we want change, it is probably a necessary thing.  But if we want peace, not so much.  Peace can come after conflict and resolution, where one side wins over the other, or it can come from acceptance and tolerance, where neither side changes position and nothing really changes.

Jesus wanted change.  It was the purpose of the whole mission, his whole sacrifice.

So, of course he says one will be divided against another, and the fire of baptism will burn away the sin, leaving us renewed.

But that is conflict in action.

So, how should we resolve our differences?  Should we seek common ground, or conflict, bringing everything out in the open?

I think we will only get to resolution through openness and honesty, but that can be painful.

One of the great things about this country of ours is we all have a right to speak freely.  That doesn't come without a cost, of course.  We have to deal with the repercussions of our messages and people will try to quiet us or call us names, but at least we are not stopped from speaking out.

So, whether I agree with you or not, we need to speak out and be heard, or we will never get to understanding of each other's positions.  That's the fire, and once we are through that, the rain will wash away the ashes and the tears.

More to come...