Thoughts for the Day

‘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.’

He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The picture of Jesus for many Christians is of a new-born baby swaddled in a manger, or else a man welcoming children to him. Whatever the image, Jesus is seen as welcoming us into his world. Often we try to forget the battered and bleeding body on the cross and prefer to remember the Jesus who healed the people and taught them about God's love.

So it's a bit of a shock to open our Bible and discover Jesus' prophecy to the disciples. Indeed he appears more like John the Baptist. But the fact is that he is facing his last days, with his death approaching - he calls it a "baptism of fire". His disciples think he will resolve all issues and bring peace to their world, a peace they must constantly long for as members of an occupied country. But Jesus shocks them into facing the truth. Those who follow him will face retribution and death in the future, and families will be torn apart between those with allegiance to him and those who are against him.

In the West we Christians have been stifled by ignorance - by those who think they understand Christianity but prefer to follow another 'god' - and by those of us who are too nervous to spread the Gospel. However, there are many places in the world where to be a Christian can still bring torture and death. There are 380 million Christians who face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith today. Think of places like Korea, India, and Yemen, and look at the map under "Further Thoughts" for more information.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You warned Your disciples of the dangers to come
for those who were to take Your gospel to the world,
and You did not place a time limit on this prophecy.
So we pray for those people still suffering today
because of their allegiance to You.
We also pray for those places
where Your message is taken for granted,
and for those who do not see the warning signs
that still exist in our world today.
Amen.