“Did Jesus Carry a Sword?”
Psalm 86 & Matthew 10: 24-39 ~ Northwood UC ~ June 25, 2023
Sometimes people confess to their ministers that they were a little tired while attending church, and perhaps they nodded off for a bit. They had a little rest during a prayer or (say it isn’t so) during the sermon! In response, ministers will employ tactics to keep things lively, and their congregations awake. ‘Accidents’ might occur that startle everyone. The occasional ‘squeal’ from the sound board that accidentally occurs causing us to protect our ears. The dropping a heavy book onto the chancel, again by accident. Or, you might focus on a very challenging text like we are this morning in the gospel lection. This morning’s text causes us to wonder ‘did Jesus really say that? Surely Jesus couldn’t have spoken those words? The text in Matthew causes us to pull out our Bibles and phones and look it up to ensure what we hear was indeed recorded in the gospel. And as you may have done, you discovered that these are indeed Matthean sayings on divisions in the family that Jesus is causing.
Family strife is not new. It is the subject of much comedy, and sadly, also heartbreak. A few sayings remind us of this subject of family conflict. “The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.” “The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.” “Some family trees bear an enormous crop of nuts.” “As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.” “Everyone knows that if you’ve got a brother, you’re going to fight.” “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” “It was nice growing up with someone like you—someone to lean on, someone to count on…someone to tell on!” As I suggested, family strife has been the foundation of both comedy and heartbreak. And family struggles continue on.
As we consider this concluding section of this reading, it is important for us to be aware of the overall location within Matthew’s gospel. Matthew structures 5 major discourses capturing the life and meaning of Jesus. Before this section, we see the Sermon on the Mount discourse starting in the 5th chapter. As many know, it contains Jesus’ longest sermon in scripture: containing Jesus’ Golden rule, the Lord’s prayer, and so many other guides for living. Jumping ahead, the Parabolic Discourse starting in the 13th chapter contain many parables teaching on the nature of the Kingdom of God. The third is the Discourse of the Church, starting in the 18th chapter. This is where Peter’s confession occurs and he is named “the rock” upon whom Christ will build his church. This section anticipates the future community of followers and guides the apostles who will lead them. And the 4th is the Discourse on End times commencing in the 23rd chapter. Challenging readings speaking about the world to come, judgement, and seeing Christ in the ones we have fed, clothed, the ones we have visited in prison. I only give you this brief overview of the discourses as a reminder that this morning’s text is part of the 5. This morning we are right in the middle of the Missionary Discourse. And the missionary discourse is all about the training of those who will go and be the church…it is the ‘training ground’ for disciples. That fancy biblical word we use for ‘learner’. This section is all about learning to be a follower of Jesus; learning to be a light of Christ; learning to be one who walks the way.
One of the troubling verses we read is Jesus saying “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but to bring a sword.” This commences the profoundly challenging section in Matthew’s discipleship discourse. This is the “but” section. We have just heard Jesus affirm the depth and nature of God’s love for each of us….but…We heard that each of the hairs on our head are numbered and know – God loves us fully. We heard of the comprehensive love God has for all - God cares for the sparrow when it falls. God knows us so deeply, that even the hairs on our head are numbered. God’s care for all Creation is so embracing that even when a sparrow falls to the earth, God cares. And here comes the…but. Having God’s love and care affirmed towards all, Jesus shifts and unveils the challenges in our following. Jesus also brings a sword. A sword that will cut through the many ways of the world; Jesus brings a sword that will cut through the ways of comfort that allow some to benefit and others to perish; Jesus brings a sword of change that is critical for the unfolding of the Kingdom of God!
Now…to be sure, Jesus’ people did live in a time of peace. The Roman Imperial rule had established peace through their immense power, and weapons, and violent methods of control. The cross, for example, stood at the entry points of every Roman-controlled city as a warning to anyone who would oppose their ways. Yet, the form of peace Jesus sought to usher in was a very different peace indeed! Jesus’ peace was one where doors are thrown open and all are welcome; Jesus’ peace is one where all parts of Creation are viewed as essential gift and blessing to the world. Jesus’ peace would require change. It would tear apart some of the existing structures in place and allow God’s Kingdom to building to occur.
Our choir’s finale for the season “O Jeremiah” was a powerful rendition of that great anthem. Jeremiah’s life was a deep challenge to live. While we didn’t read the text this morning, we all remember the prophet’s story. Beaten and jailed for having proclaimed God’s word. Jeremiah experienced the sword for following God. In the text that comes us with today’s lections, he complains that even his friends and family are against him for his faithful action. Jeremiah’s living of his faith, speaking as a prophet, caused him to meet the sword that cut the ties of friends and family. St. Francis, that wonderful patron saint of the animals, has a powerful story of beginning where he experienced swords of division for his faithful actions. Francis left a wealthy family home for a simpler life of imitating Jesus. This infuriated his father and caused great family strife. There are so many examples of this throughout history. Following our faith, doing the ‘right’ thing…does not always bring family harmony and comfort, does it? Sometimes it acts like a sword, cutting divisions.
Apart from National Indigenous History Month, many will be aware that June is also Pride Awareness Month. Many of our churches, and our Regional Council have now moved ahead with the training to become ‘affirming’ in their status. As a United Church, we affirm the beauty of all human sexuality in its varied expressions. We affirm the 2SLGBTQAI+: 2 spirited people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer/questioning, asexual, intersexual, and ‘+’ for all the expressions of human sexuality in which people are choosing to identify. The movement in families towards affirming has NOT been an easy one for many. It has, at times, functioned like a sword: a sword cutting family ties…a sword bringing in hatred, rather than love…a sword creating division, rather than family unity. The strife in families has been like a sword that led to much heartbreak.
Some of you might recall back to the days of our church (coming up 40 years ago now) to 1988 when the United Church made the bold decision on human sexuality not being a barrier to one’s ordination call. The first minister was ordained, a wonderful gay man in our Region – Tim Stevenson – who served faithfully in many ways. A generation later, church leaders represent the full spectrum of human sexuality and I am proud to stand alongside all my siblings in Christ as we honour the gifts and blessings found in our great church family.
Within the biological family unit, we are increasingly seeing challenges as family members simply want to express their full and authentic selves. And this has caused fractures and so much hurt. I have strong memories going back many years. A story…A member from the church I was serving came to me with a troubled heart. ‘I am so upset with my family. In fact I’m ____ (you can fill in the blank). My grandson has realized he is actually my granddaughter. She has realized that she is transgendered. Her parents (my kids) are so troubled. There is a lot of tension and anger in that household right now. Everyone seems to have an opinion and is taking a side. All my grandchild wants is to be called Jane, rather than Joe as we first knew her’. As I sought to support that member of my church, she emerged as a guiding light and a beacon of hope. Like a sword, she was able to cut through the divisions; like a sword, she cut through the fear; like a sword, she cut through the hatred. Her ‘sword-like’ actions functioned as a wise elder in her family. She was able to call them back to unity and love.
With all the posts floating around the internet for Pride Month, my favourite is the simple one reminding us of the many times Jesus judged others for their sexuality…the total, of course, was zero. I wonder about this family, and all families who suffer such division, based on hatred and judgement. I wonder how Jesus might be calling them to make their next steps ahead…as confusing and challenging as they might seem right now.
As we started, this section in Matthew’s gospel is about discipleship…learning how to follow Jesus. And what we discover is that it is hard. Telling the truth in love…is hard. Challenging oppression…is hard. Creating a space for all…is hard. Yet we balance that, knowing that God’s love is stronger than we ever can know! God’s care is wider than we can imagine! God’s compassionate grace is deeper than we can ever understand. Indeed each hair on our head is known; each sparrow that falls from the sky is beloved…we are simply given the task of allowing this kind of Kin-dom to unfold through our actions of living, loving and serving. May the separations and divisions and hatred be severed and cut. And may we begin to heal as God’s united people.
May it be so! Amen.