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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Proper 15 Yr C
ter Borch, Gesina (1631-1690), Couple's domestic argument, watercolor, in Stedelijk Museum Zwolle; in the public domain
Published date 8/12/2025
Editor's note: During the season of Pentecost, churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary have two options. One, often called "semicontinuous" or "Track 1", provides more detail about the Old Testament stories. The other, called "complementary" or "Track 2", more closely marries the Old Testament lesson to the gospel reading.
Introduction
Introduction
In a world that has become disrupted by meanness, ugliness, hatred, and so forth, it is easy to lose composure and become disheartened. For many of us, years of our lives have been spent trying to bring the love of Jesus to "the world", in particular to those around us—some in radical ways (like protest marches and rallies), some in less obvious ways (like kindnesses to those we know and, more importantly, to those we don't know). For some, we see our hard fought gains being chipped away. We see the institutions we have helped form dismantled with glee. It's not an easy place to be, today, given how we have gotten here. At least for me, I was really enjoying what peace was in the world and hoping that changes for peace would come to those parts of the world that had not yet achieved it. That too seems to be going away.
Then comes this gospel reading from Luke. At first blush, it appears that this is what Jesus intended: dissension, division, anger, hostility, and more. Jesus says this is what I'm bringing. What!? Not my Jesus! Not my "Love your neighbor" Jesus! Yes, that one! He is telling us that life is a difficult journey. Note the Hebrew lesson points to the "clouds of witnesses" that affirm: Life is a difficult journey. If you're really being brave, ask the person you know best to tell you honestly how life has been a difficult journey for them. Don't be surprised by the answer.
Then Jesus says you should be able to see the signs of what is to come. Not only that, in some translations, Jesus says he will "set the world aflame." In her blog, Sharron Blezard reminds us of both the positive and negative aspects of flame—warmth. glow, comfort or destruction, danger, burns, but more importantly purification. So will being "set aflame" be the positive or the negative? And, of course, it is both. Further, Jesus states specifically how families will fare. He has said that we will see the signs. In fact, he says we already see the signs—every day—but do not recognize them. I believe the conclusion here is life being hard is how we are purified, how we accept the love of Jesus, and how we show the love of Jesus. Be purified! Comments welcome.
Luke 12:49-56
Luke 12:49-56
Jesus said, “. . . 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; . . .” He also said to the crowds, “. . . 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?”
From sermon4kids.com: “One time Jesus said that he was going to be the cause of division among the people. What did he mean? He meant that . . . There would be some who would follow, and others who would not.”
Scripture: August 17, 2025 (Proper 15, Year C)—Isaiah 5:1-7 (image); Psalm 80:1-2, 8-18 (image); Jeremiah 23:23-29 (image); Psalm 82 (image); Hebrews 11:29-12:2 (image); and Luke 12:49-56 (image).
Collect: Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection:
Track 1: How do you reconcile a sense of division within yourself and the world with the unity we are promised as the people of God? What sustains you in times of conflict? Identify some occasions in your life when you were unable to recognize an invitation to reconciliation and wholeness.
Track 2: How has following Christ caused conflict in your own life or in the life of someone you know?
(excerpted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year C, Volume 2 © 2013 Westminster John Knox Press)
A visual/audio journey. Thanks to Joseph M Froneberger III for reading.
Images enhancing
the scripture
“Domestic argument” by Gesina ter Borch
“Sunrise” by Margret Hofheinz-Döring
“God as architect and builder“, The Frontispiece of Bible Moralisee
"The three Marys" by Henry Ossawa Tanner
"The departure of the Israelites" by David Roberts
Music founded
in the scripture
“Signs” by Five Man Electric Band
“Signs of life“, delightful song by Hank Beebe (click on “listen”)
“Follow, Follow” by Robert Lowry
"Follow me", from Camelot [Ed's note: with a little imagination, this could be about following Jesus]
Other voices
about the scripture
“Aflame” by Sharron Blezard
“Looking to Jesus” by Richard Price (a sermon with a twist)
“A stressful sermon” [original name "a dreadful sermon"] by David Lose
Movies representing some part of the scripture
“The Sixth Sense” (1999, PG-13), psychological thriller, “. . . the interrogators have made up their minds . . .”, Review 1, Review 2
“Double Jeopardy” (1999, R), “a film that celebrates doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons”, Review
Image credit: Photo by Leonard von Bibra on Unsplash
For families: Study guide and activities (another guide), group activity, snack, kid video
For children: See family guide/activities above (another activity); bulletin; faith bracelet
For middlers: See family guide/activities above (another activity); bulletin; faith cross stitch
Coloring: children together; Witnesses One and Two; Rejoicing.
For youth: Considering the stirring words of the epistle lesson from Hebrews about the great cloud of witnesses, how are we who live in safety free to live as followers of Christ? What do we have to lose? How can we be bolder in our discipleship? What can we do to support others who willingly put themselves in harm’s way (missionaries, for example)? (From Sharron Blezard’s blog). Comments welcome.
Image credit: Photo by TopSphere Media on Unsplash
In today’s liturgy, we are confronted with some of Jesus’ hardest words. As he traveled toward Jerusalem, certain of the great crisis that lay ahead, Jesus set forth the serious nature of discipleship. He referred to his approaching death as his “baptism.” He revealed that faithfulness to God would produce opposition and division.
God’s message to an unfaithful people through the prophet Jeremiah is that his word comes as hard truth. It will lay bare lies and deceit. It demands that those who speak for God speak truth, even though the message may be hard to bear.
In the second reading today, we are assured that regardless of the opposition and division which faithfulness to God may bring, we have hope. That hope is based first on the record of God’s faithful people in the past, but is based above all on the record of Jesus. The “cloud of witnesses” of the past is now joined and led by Jesus “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
As we gather in Eucharist, we are indeed surrounded by the witness of those in ages past whose faith in God led them to hard and tough decisions. In Christ and with each other the joys and the hard disciplines of faith are united. We recall Christ’s death and resurrection and our own incorporation into his dying and rising, which began in us in baptism.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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