Luke 12:49-59

     Turn the other cheek
     Peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you.
     Forgive.
     Judge not.
     Love your neighbor.
     Love your enemy.
     He who lives by the sword will de by the sword.
     All these teachings of Jesus and the Judeo-Christian scriptures seem oddly incongruous with the words he speaks in this portion of chapter twelve, that he has come to bring not peace but a sword. That he had come to bring division. That his coming would set even families against each other.
      These words are especially troubling in an era when the extremists of most world religions have practiced terrible violence.
      Was Jesus condoning such violence? Or was he making an observation upon reality?
     Christians early found that their belief was sometimes a source of outer conflict even while it brought them peace and joy of the spirit. Becoming a Christian could break up a marriage. It could lead to persecution. Jesus surely knew this would happen. Was he referring to this when he spoke of bringing a sword? Could the sword sometimes be metaphorical?
     Yet, a few sentences later, in verses 57-9, he speaks of making peace with an opponent before he drags you to court and perhaps lands you in jail. One scholars suggests that the goal is tHaso encourage people to reconcile with God--i.e. if you are clever enough to reconcile before a worse fate with humans, surely people are wise enough to do it in regard to their faith. People are able to interpret signs of the weather, so it is ironic that they can’t interpret the signs of God’s actions.
     Some traditions may not find these words of Jesus troubling. Others will. Though the suggestion of violence is difficult to understand for some, it is undeniable that Jesus came to create change. And change is often difficult. Jesus is not the lord of passivity, or apathy. Christians are called to wholehearted commitment and passionate faith. A question to be raised, then, is how to be passionate, without becoming like one of the extremists who lose all the positive aspects of their faith teachings.
 

If the “sword” could be a metaphor, what would it represent in your life?
What would passionate faith mean to you?
Has your faith ever caused some form of disruption in your life and relationships?

Luke 12:32-48

     The discussion of worldly goods, anxiety and faith concludes with Jesus telling his disciples to have no fear, sell possessions so they can give to the poor, to provide for themselves spiritual purses, whose wealth is in heaven, for no moths can chew that up and no thieves can steal it. For, Jesus said, where our treasure is, so will our hearts be.
     Few Christians have been as radical as to sell all their possessions, yet many Christians have learned the joy of denying themselves and giving generously. Jesus here masterfully points meaning back at the story which he had used earlier, that of the man who had built a bigger barn thinking that was what he needed, only to learn that earthly belongings are temporary--he should have been paying more attention to matters of the soul.
     The climax of what Jesus says is his comment that where our treasure is, that is where our hearts will be found. Jesus understood human nature extremely well. If what we treasure is earthly, our souls will be earthbound. If what we treasure is spiritual, our souls will gain wings.
     Jesus then shifts to another matter, the subject of readiness. He images a servant waiting for the master to return home from a wedding party. Such a party could conclude at any time, short or long. The master might leave the party at any time. The servant doesn’t have any idea. Does the wise servant head for sleep and figure there’s plenty of time?
      Forget modern concepts of fair employment and eight-hour workdays--those don’t apply here. In the day and time of Jesus, the servant paid attention to the needs and wants of the master. If the master returned home and found things out-of-place, not prepared, there would be reprisals. Jesus was pointing out that the wise servant stays ready.
     Then Jesus shifts to a situation anyone might face, even the poor. No one expects a burglar. No one knows the time someone might break in a steal something. Even if it has never happened, the wise householder does not lull themselves into a state of security. It could happen, without warning.
     Using these images of wisdom and preparedness, Jesus reminds them to be ready, because they never know when the Son of Man is be among them.
      Peter, ever the literal man who wants detailed instructions, wants to know if this applies to everyone, or just to the disciples.
     Jesus, ever one to ask people to think, doesn’t give a simple yes or no. Instead he returns to the image of the wise and trusty servant. Who is this servant? Who is the one appointed as the steward (a powerful and honorable position)? It won’t be the one who slacks off and abuses the other servants. It will be the one who was faithful and ready.
      Jesus concludes with the comment that to those who have been given much, much will be expected. This is reminiscent of his parable of the talents.

Where would you say your treasure is?
Is readiness important for you?
What are you waiting for?
What is your readiness as a steward?

Luke 12:22-31

     After telling a story about a man who had a great crop and built a bigger barn to put it in, Jesus directed some words to the disciples. He told them not to worry about what they needed for food and clothing. Life is more important than food and the body more than clothing. The birds don’t plant seeds or harvest, they don’t need barns, but God still feeds them. And “you” are worth so much more than birds.
     Taken literally and to the extreme, these words seem completely contrary to the responsible work ethic that many of us hold. If the birds don’t sow and reap, why should we?
     It isn’t enough to say, ‘well, he was talking to his disciples and not to the rest of us.’ Most of what he said to his first followers is definitely applicable in some way to the chain of disciples down the line 2,000 years later. Did he intend the disciples and succeeding followers to forget about earning a living and expect it to fall from heaven?
      It is hard to believe that Jesus was advising people to do nothing in life or to expect other people to take care of them. He certainly wanted people to use their resources wisely and charitably, and that assumes people will have some resources to manage. The question may boil down to how “excessive” is defined. Jesus was talking that day to a group of extremely practical men, literal, largely unimaginative, and with a tendency to put excess worry into the wrong things.
     This is further emphasized by his next words as he asks his disciples whether they can add even a day to their lives by worrying about it? If not, then why worry about all the other matters? And he continues with the example of the wayside flower, noting that even wealthy King Solomon was not clothed as beautifully as the bloom in the field, though the flower neither spins nor sews. Won’t God clothe the disciples as well?
      As the modern reader of health articles know, “worry” or “stress” is the bugaboo for blood pressure and other health problems. The proliferation of acidic stomach, tension headaches, etc. can attest to it. Yet since the first attempt to turn “stress” into a wholly negative aspect of life, others have pointed out that stress is natural to life and some of it is vital for survival. Balance is often the recommended approach. But could Jesus have talked to these worrying, obsessed disciples about “balance” and have them understand? There was a cultural tendency toward hyperbole, which should never be underestimated, even while we take the teaching seriously.
     Jesus concludes by commenting to the disciples on how small their store of faith is.
     We may all have known people who sat back and declared that “we should act on faith.” Members of churches or other Christian organizations have sometimes made decisions on the belief that they should act on faith and that God will provide. Sometimes that calm belief has proven itself in spectacular ways. In other cases, those who acted on faith ended with a lost mortgage or other problem on their hands. It is possible to say that perhaps what they originally wanted was wrong and that is why God didn’t “provide.” But that backs the question up to the original statement of faith and whether people should be cautious about leaping off the roof and simply expecting God to catch them.
       Of course, it is extremely unlikely that the disciples would ever choose to be non-workers, living off the efforts of other people. They were generally a hard-working responsible group who took a huge leap of faith in leaving their nets and other tasks behind to follow Jesus. Now that they were in the middle of it, they were obviously stewing over what was going to happen next. Was Jesus trying to remind them of the leap they’d already taken and encourage them to hold fast?
      Jesus contrasts the lack of worry he is advising them to have with the pagans who are always concerned about what they will eat and drink. Comparing them with pagans may have been a shock statement. Instead, he tells them, your Father knows that you need these things.
       Once again, the “but” could be asked. There are people of deep and sincere faith who have starved to death, have gone unclothed or watched their children die. We must be honest enough with our faith and its ideals to confront reality. But would Jesus want us to use that as an excuse for scrambling after worldly “security?” Or would he use it as a call to manage any resources we have so we can share with others?
     One thing is certain, excessive anxiety and grasping after worldly goods can exclude God from consideration. It can trap us in our own concerns and close off our compassion for other people.
     Whatever it meant to the first disciples, Jesus’ words challenge us today.
     What does it mean to be people of faith?
      How much planning and work and caution is stewardship, and when does the excess become foolish and counterproductive worry?
     Have you ever taken a leap of faith? Enough of them?

Luke 12:13-21

     Jesus is by now a known and respected speaker. A man in the crowd spoke up and asked Jesus to require his brother to divide with him the property their father had left for them. It has been speculated that this would have been the younger brother. The larger share of property always went to the eldest son in the family. Although this seems unfair to most people today, it was the accepted practice in many cultures throughout history. Scholars say that it was to ensure the maintenance of larger estates for social stability.
     This isn’t to say that the younger brothers enjoyed the situation...as this story and the tale of the prodigal son both illustrate. In this particular situation, the elder brother has apparently refused to give the younger sibling his allotted share and this defrauded man looks to Jesus to remedy the situation.
      From a certain perspective, this may have seemed right. Jesus was respected. He clearly had an air of authority that impressed the crows and made his opponent nervous. Perhaps the brother had even come and joined the crowd, thereby acknowledging some sense of respect for Jesus’ opinion. Yet, from the perspective of time, we might look at this man and wonder why he was bothering with physical property when he had the lord of life in front of him.
     The response of Jesus doesn’t appear to be scornful, but more sad when he asks who had given him the right to judge the matter. Then he used the moment to pass on a teaching to the entire crowd when he warned them to beware of greed, for their true and genuine life was not summed up in what they owned.
      Jesus proceeded to tell the parable of the man with the bigger and better barn. He’d had a great harvest and decided to tear down his barn and build one good enough for his harvest. Once it was done he congratulated himself and decided he could be at ease. But God tells him he’s a fool, for he would die that night and what good would his barns or harvest be?
     This is how it was, Jesus said, with those who pile up earthly riches, but are not rich with God and spirit.
     Jesus had a clear sense of priorities. A person grasping after wealth was missing out on eternal riches. Most spiritual paths have tended to raise concern over those who emphasize the physical over the spiritual. A Hindu fable ends with the comment that those who live only for bread will do anything to attain it.
     One wonders if the man wanting his share of the his father’s property understood, or rejected the teaching. Certainly, Christians have not always had a comfortable relationship with the physical world. Responses range from ascetics who reject all physical pleasure or comfort, to those who have convinced themselves that being a Christians is a path and justification for affluence.
     It is true that Jesus’ words can be taken in more than one way. He doesn’t necessarily say that wealth and spiritual riches are necessarily exclusive. That is, perhaps someone can be rich in both ways. The dangers of it are clear--the temptation to forget priorities in the pursuit of worldly gain. On the other extreme, few Christians have gone the path of someone like Mother Teresa, and many feel a sense of spiritual angst in observing that sort of consecration.
      It is not a subject that is or should be easily resolved.

What is your relationship with money?
If you were brutally honest with yourself, how important is physical wealth to you?
Would your attitude toward worldly security lead you to be blind to the treasure of Jesus standing in front of you?