20th Sunday 2016

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53

This passage from Jeremiah is taken from the chapter detailing the fall of Jerusalem in 589 BCE. Zedikiah, the king, has lost power even within his own court and allows the princes to kill Jeremiah. Throughout his reign, the king continually seeks but does not heed Jeremiah’s advice. In biblical narrative, three is an important number and often occurs at the climax of events or as a reversal to previous events. In this case, Jeremiah has warned Zedikiah more than three times, however, it is the lack of reversal which is telling.

Zedikiah is not seeking the word of the Lord, but affirmation that his power will remain intact. He never follows the advice he seeks, but continues to ask for it in hopes that it will change. In other words, he refuses to change and looks to the messenger of the Lord to indicate that the Lord has changed in His intentions. Like Zedikiah, we seek answers from the Lord or those we feel represent His thinking, and yet, don’t believe or act on the responses unless they agree with what we want to believe.

The passage in Jeremiah involves division and conflict due to a battle over power. There is conflict between the king and his court, Israel and Babylon, and those in the Jerusalem who switch sides and side with Babylon. Groups of people are often divided when determining who’s the greater power and/or who will use their power to benefit said people. Jesus tells us more about making this decision. He knows of the people’s expectation and hope that the Messiah will have the power to enable the Israelites to rule the region. He makes it clear, however, the power He yields is theological and spiritual.

“The idea of casting fire upon the earth could suggest either punishment or purification… (His) death releases the Spirit, which both judges and purifies the Earth,” (1). In the passive, the Greek verb ‘baptism’ means to be submerged; “above all it is used of the person who is submerged in some grim and terrible experience. That is the way in which Jesus uses it here,” (2). Earth-bound fire is indeed scary and horrifying, but only the power of the Holy Spirit can save us from judgment and punishment, grim and terrible experiences. It also purifies us.

Resources:

1- Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary on the Bible. Abingdon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1971.
2- The Gospel of Luke, William Barclay. The New Daily Study Bible, John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky 2001.
3- New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary. Abingdon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010.

Journal Questions:

When have I asked the Lord a question repeatedly because I didn’t like the answer and hoped He would change His mind? Did I change the Lord’s mind, or did He change mine? What was the conclusion of the discernment?
How do I perceive political power? What are my attitudes towards the power of the Trinity? How does the power differ; how is it the same?

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