Lectionary Year C
August 19, 2001
Luke 12:49-56

Distillation

Step V - Distillation

A. Summary of Salient Features

(JFC) "The theological 'center of gravity' in this text" is, apparently, Jesus' attitude as he speaks these words. All week we must have longed for this pericope to be a good news message. Danker asserts that, "The revolutionary character of Good News does not permit acceptance of the status quo." If this assertion is so, the major concerns might include the evidence that there is a significance to "the present time", in the final phrase of this lection, where we frequently find a passage's climax toward which all previous verses aim. Also, there seems to be something more significant than the signs of the weather elements and the meanings toward which they point, as important as they were to those first century hearers/readers of these declarations. So, is the whole issue of "separation/division", quite a major concern? I think it might be. Then, the minor matters could include the picture(s) of families soon to be in identifiable conflict(s) and the speaker's calling the weather-signs-reading crowds, "hypocrites".

B. Smoother Translation

(JFC) 49 Fire(!) I came to cast upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But, first, another (symbolic) baptism I have to be baptized with, and how I am stressed until it should be accomplished. 51 Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth? No, I say to you, but rather separation/division. 52 For there will two and two against three, 53 they will be separated/divided father against son and son against father, mother against the daughter and daughter against the mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law. 54 And he said also to the crowd, "When you see clouds rising in the west, immediately you say that heavy rain comes, and it takes place thusly; 55 and when a south wind is blowing, you say that heat will be (coming), and it appears. 56 Hypocrites, the signs of the earth and of the heavens you know how to interpret, but how is it that this present time you do not know how to interpret?

C. Hermeneutical Bridge

(JFC) Was it Jim Bowie who drew the line in the sand with his knife? Is that what Jesus is doing in these sentiments expressed so emphatically? Is he saying that divisions occur in the realities of life's givens AND that we are to decide on which side of divisions we are to take our stands, maybe on which side of every issue that arises in life today, drilling for petroleum products or preserving the natural habitat, tax refunds or stabilizing Social Security, whether children go to public or private school or get home-schooling, leaving troops in Southeast Asia or bringing them home, exerting political/commercial influence in China for the sake of human rights, ordaining homosexuals or excluding some from church office, abortion or family planning, etc.

| Return to gospel text listings | Return to Epistle text listings |
| Return to Old Testament listings | Return to Psalms listings |
| User response form |