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?