The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 9 in this Year C is Luke 12.49–56, continuing in a substantial section of teaching of Jesus gathered together by Luke. In this part of the gospel, we find some of Jesus’ toughest teaching about the reality of judgement and the cost of following him. (The lectionary oddly cuts of the final verses of the chapter, which include a tough saying unique to Luke).
What does Jesus mean by saying ‘I have come’? What kind of imagery is that of ‘casting fire on the earth’? And how does it fit with the ‘watery’ imagery of baptism? More widely, how does the language of Jesus bringing division and conflict sit with his emphasis elsewhere in this gospel on bringing peace?
Come and join James and Ian as they explore what these mean for Christian living, and how we much preach on this text. Revd James Blandford-Baker is vicar of Histon and Impington, two villages just north of Cambridge. Revd Dr Ian Paul is Associate Minister of St Nic’s, Nottingham, and writes the widely-read blog www.psephizo.com.
Written commentary can be found in the next article published here.
The booklet on Peace in Paul and Luke by Michael Gorman can be found here.
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