Translate this page to another language:
A parent noticed their child was sad coming home from school one day.
“What’s wrong?” The parent asked.
“I really don’t like long division,” the child answered, “I always feel bad for the remainder.”1
If I am being truly transparent, and I usually am fairly transparent, I also have trouble with the “remainder.” It is difficult for me to leave people out. From the time I was a child, I saw people of different beliefs gather around the table to break bread (literally) and share in community. My mother’s brothers and sisters were diverse in their religious, political, and socio-economic status, yet each summer and Christmas we gathered together. For me, this is why the scriptures (all of them!) troubled me this past Sunday. How could Jesus, the Prince of Peace, want division? Who would he leave out and why?
In Luke 12:49-56, Jesus is saying that others will be torn apart for belief in him. It is not so much that someone is left behind as it is that they choose not to follow Christ’s path.
As time progressed, Christians saw their own isolation become a reality. The writer of Hebrews tells us that this prophecy was fulfilled when “Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.”2 In order to receive help saving ourselves from our life of judgment, we must be willing to have our lives torn up, we must have our lives turned upside down This epistle passage is called the Hebrew Hall of Fame, because it highlights those who have succeeded escaping from sin into Glory. Sadly, their escape came at a great earthly cost. There was torture, stoning, and burnings of these people of faith.
The foundation of Jesus’ words can be seen in the Old Testament. The Prophets' messages stand alone, however, there is a difference when we hear it with Christian ears. Jeremiah tells his listeners that he is seeking to call out those who are not being true to the faith.3 Of course, this is the same call that Jesus makes in Luke’s Gospel passage today. Jesus wants us to be honest and true rather than living out of our own lives and divisions. It seems we as humans want to continue to be sinful. We divide based on earthly things: the size of our income, age, etc. rather than our divine nature. We must unite together in order to save ourselves from sin.
The world cares about the beauty of art as it pertains to instant gratification. It is why nft, non-fungible tokens, a form of digital art, are so popular. Yes, they take time to create, however, someone receives them instantly. Someone instantly receives a masterpiece rather than waiting for the picture to be painted. We are called as Christians to take a long view: yes, there will be division and some will be separated from us. Still, we must seek to be firm in our belief in Christ. It is my prayer for you that you remain steadfast in your faith.
1 https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/math-jokes/
2 Romans 11:35
3 https://www.ccel.org/w/wesley/notes/notes/Jeremiah.html#Chapter_XXIII
