Sermon - 8/17/25

Year C – 10th Sunday after Pentecost; Lectionary 20 – August 17, 2025

Pastor Megan Floyd

Jeremiah 23:23-29

Luke 12:49-56

Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator, and from Jesus Christ, who guides our feet in the way of true and costly peace. Amen.

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So… this is a comforting gospel passage. The word of the Lord, everyone… Thanks be to God.

These words from Jesus we have read today seem so contrary to Zechariah’s proclamation in the beginning of Luke, that Jesus will be the one “…to guide our feet in the way of peace.” (Luke 1:79)…

They seem contrary to the words of comfort he offers his disciples… “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you…” (John 14:27)

Why then… why… does he say here that he does not come to bring peace… but rather, he comes to bring division and fire to the earth?

Why? …what happened to Jesus as our good and loving shepherd?  …our strong vine… our bread of life?

I love that Jesus… but I suppose… Jesus also said he is the way… and the truth… and the life.

But following The Way… does not guarantee prosperity or health… following The Way of Christ does not ever guarantee that the path will be safe from outside harm.

But if you value truth… and life… then the Way of Jesus is worth the earthly cost… it is worth the pain that can come when those you love… choose not to join you in your discipleship…

…when they choose, rather, to cling to the systems of sin and oppression... to cling to hatred and bigotry… prejudice and violence…

When they choose to cling to the very systems that Jesus came to destroy.

Then yes… Jesus’ words will cause division.

Just as the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed… “Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29)

Do you trust the Lord, your God, to break what needs to be broken?

Do you trust the Lord, your God… to guide your feet in the way of costly peace?

Do you trust the Lord, your God… to break open your heart… and set your heart ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit?

Do you trust your Creator?

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze!” (Luke 12:49)

These… are challenging words… but the Good News of Jesus Christ should challenge us…

The Good News of Jesus Christ should provoke us to break down the walls of sin and shame that we cling to…

The Good News of Jesus Christ must break us open so that the dawn from on high will shine upon us… and love… true love… God’s true life-giving love… can grow.

Jesus knew… that this Good News… was worth dying for… surely for us, it is worth the discomfort of being re-cast… re-molded… re-formed by God’s love.

Have you ever watched an artist blow glass? …whenever I have had the opportunity to witness this art, I am captivated.

It requires training, skill, and strength… an artist’s eye for color, shape, and detail… and a willingness to work with materials that could destroy them… molten glass… and raging fire.

And yet, the artist