Isaiah 5:1-7 and Luke 12:49-56

The collection of sermon quotes by Oscar Romero published and entitled The Violence of Love captures the Gospel reading this week in its entirety. Romero was murdered after his short years as Archbishop of El Salvador which saw him, in his own words, become converted to the poor and suffering in the eyes of Jesus. He preached in 1977 ‘The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood [sic], the violence that wills to beat weapons of war into sickles for work’

Luke begins to show the tension rising in Jesus ministry and the utter rejection that Jesus will face near the end. Jesus came to preach the kingdom and embody shalom in its fullness - this will will come like a fire he says (v49). This kingdom and peace is no inner calm sentimentality, where spirituality is a form of escapism. Christian spirituality is about an immersion into the world - with all its tension and mess. Where there is a clash of powers - the kingdom vs evil. Jesus way of bringing his peace and kingdom however is not the way of the world - peace through war and violence. This myth has been practiced for centuries since Christ and centuries before, and as history testifies - it has brought anything but peace. Jesus way of bringing his kingdom will involve exposing sin and corruption; challenging hypocrisy and shallowness. This will mean people will be divided. Evil systems will respond to challenge and threat. Sometimes Truth is painful. But says Jesus we must keep alert to those times when this division will come and not be afraid. Read the signs and not be hoodwinked. But do not be afraid to speak out. Do not be afraid to act.

The vineyard song in Isaiah begins with a tender recollection of land being carefully tended and prepared. But the truth comes with some pain in Isaiah as he begins to show Israel their real predicament. Their calling to be a fruitful vine has now become replaced with a tedious wild variety. Isaiah comes to sing out the truth in a song that itself will cause division. In a metaphorical twist he helps people see that God is the one who planted Israel - he expected justice and righteousness - all he got was bloodshed and discord. It is a warning not just to Israel - but to us. Keep alert for the search for justice and righteousness. Even more so in times of bloodshed. When news headlines speak about war and rumours of war, torture, national security, disappearances we must be more vigilant in the search for justice. To hold our leaders to account. To not stop shouting out the message of the kingdom, even if this mean being a bit unpopular at times.