Looking Ahead to August 15, 2010 -- 12th Sunday After Pentecost

The Scripture Passages this week are:

• Isaiah 5:1-7
• Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 (VU p.794 Part 2)
• Luke 12:49-56

The Sermon Title is Family Values -- Jesus' Style!

Early Thoughts: Every Christmas we hear it.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

And yet today we have a Gospel passage where Jesus appear to deny the truth of that last title.  In fact he says that following him will lead to splits in families (apparently along generational lines).

What does it mean to choose to follow one path over another?  What are the possible risks of that choice?

These are the questions be raised by the Luke passage this week.  Jesus is reminding the people around him that sometimes hard decision need to be made.  Remember that one of the "Big 10" is to Honour thy father and mother but Jesus says that his followers may have to choose between "The Way" and one's parents.  It is almost like Jesus is saying that the commandment does not matter?????

In a world where we are often told in the media that the Christian Church stands for defending the family and maintaining strong family values, passages like these are an inconvenience at best.

The reality is that in the context of Luke's community becoming a follower of The Way was not always an easy (or safe) choice.  Sometimes it did indeed mean shutting oneself off from family and friends (or creating a situation where they would shut you out/disown you).  Today?  Well maybe not so much.  Maybe.

On the other hand, maybe being a part of the Christian community is once again becoming more counter-cultural.  Maybe it is becoming a little bit more risky.  And maybe, just maybe, that is a good thing.