Ask people about the fruits of the spirit, and I bet most people can identify “love, joy and peace.” The fact is that when we think of our faith and our expectations, we hope to find peace and serenity. There is a certain comfort in worshiping with our brothers and sisters. I will grant you that.
The Bible gives us a lot of encouragement along these lines. The prophet Isaiah said that the Messiah would be known as the “Prince of PEACE” (Isaiah 9:6). When Jesus was born, the angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth PEACE among those whom he favors” (Luke 2:14). Jesus greeted his disciples by saying, “PEACE be with you” (Luke 24:36; John 20:19).
Today’s reading is not about peace though. Jesus says 泥o you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!・ This is a scary thought. We come to church looking for peace and find division. What is up with that?
This last Wednesday, the Gospel reading for the Mass was about dealing with conflict. I argued that the scripture read as if it were about division, but really it was about resolving conflict which is another matter entirely. We need to be committed to doing what is right, and sometimes this means resolving conflict and dealing with division.
We are talking about pushing the envelope to do what is right. We are talking about doing the right thing even if it is hard and makes someone unhappy. The division is not the point, but it is a consequence, and it may be a cost of doing the Lord’s business.
Today’s reading from Hebrews talks about Moses leading the people of Israel through the Red Sea as if on dry land. Let’s think about that story and some of the conflict there. Pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go, and God brought ten plagues on Egypt. The Israelites left Egypt, walked through the Red Sea, and the Egyptian soldiers who tried to pursue drowned. So you are thinking “Whoa that is a lot of conflict!”
But wait, that is not all. The Israelites had lots of conflict with Moses, their leader too. When they found the Red Sea at their front and the Egyptians at their rear, they shouted at Moses: “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:12)
They complained at Marah because the water was bitter (Exodus 15:22-27). Then they complained about being hungry (Exodus 16:3). God sweetened the water at Marah and gave them manna to eat. Then they were unhappy because they got tired of eating manna. Then the Amalekites attacked.
You would think that when God decided to save the Israelites, he would also make it easy for them. But He didn’t. He did not make it easy.
Here is the important part. It is the takeaway. God saved the Israelites. He didn’t make it easy for them, but he did save them. They got to the Promised Land. It took a while, and they had a bumpy journey getting there but they arrived.
I mention that because, in our Gospel lesson today, Jesus says:
“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.”
I see a parallel between the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness and our journey through life. Even walking with Christ, we often fail to find the peace that we’re looking for. Our journey, too, is often long and bumpy, and sometimes it is really tough.
But wait – there is Good News. That news is that Christ has saved us. Like the Israelites, we are headed for the Promised Land – the kingdom of God.
My takeaways are these.
God loves us and has saved us. Even when things are tough, God has a plan for us.
Working for the Kingdom may cause stress and conflict.
We have to do what is right and understand there may be a cost to doing the Lord’s business.
I have said these words in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr. Tom at St. Thomas Episcopal – Plymouth
August 18, 2019; Tenth Sunday of Pentecost – Proper 15
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56