Here’s what I said on Sunday in the pulpit about that tricky gospel reading.
Not peace, but a division
Sometimes one reads the Gospel in church and everyone nods knowingly. You can tell that people think that what is being said is wise and good.
When we tell the story of the Good Samaritan, perhaps. Or the Prodigal Son. Or the stories of his response when people brought him those who were sick.
We hear Jesus being clever, holy and gracious. We see him healing and enlightening and blessing.
And we approve.
We approve of this Saviour for he is made in the image of all our hopes and our dreams.
This is a God whom we can like. He would not be out of place in our company. We would be honoured to take him home for tea.
But the truth is, Christianity is about something a little more than this. It is about following a Saviour who sometimes turns around and says things that we find tricky, difficult or bewildering. (more…)
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