No one said this would be easy--originally from August 2007

Luke 12: 49-53 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 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:
father against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

Jesus, who knows better than any other human being what it means to follow God's directives, is speaking to us. He is placing our lives and our relationships in the fire that will remove anything that is not "true". He reminds us that his presence in our midst will separate us and divide us -- friends, relations, family, and communities.

We will be divided as a result of our ability (or lack of ability) to pay attention to the way we must be to participate in the kingdom of God. Hard truths.... death of self (and self image), surrender of life and possessions...all for the sake of others. These are the requirements of Kingdom living.

The closer we are to Christ, the more pressed we are to see the truth of what he taught throughout his ministry. He presses us to see that fear of following through or wonderment about what might be sacrificed or undermined as a result of discipleship are not viable reasons for holding back. In fact, when we hear what we are to do in scripture, through proclamation, or, quite honestly, through the dire details about poverty and injustice we DARE NOT behave as if we have not been told what to do and how to behave.

The good news, however, is that it is in the lives and the places where the message of Christ, His love, and abundant life MOST NEEDS to be heard that HE will be found by our side. Turning away from his counsel is like donning blinders and ear plugs. Jesus always speaks the truth, nomatter how hard that truth may be... but he stays with us and participates in whatever changes of lifestyle or reassessment of priorities the truth requires.

Discipleship is very, very difficult.... but when it is grounded in truth, we are companioned by Christ through every trial and division that occurs on the path. Christ is diligent in staying with us, lifting us up, so that we may be his hands, feet, and carriers of his wonderful message to all the world.