By The Rev’d Lucy Nguyen

Season: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7, Hebrews 11:29-12:2, Luke 12:49-56

If you were following the readings this morning – you may have been, a bit like me, at the start of our first reading, which is always a reading from the First Testament or more commonly known as the Old Testament.

The Reading from Isaiah had me at the first line: “let me sing for my beloved”

I was keen to read on.

Indeed, on reflection I likened my first response to be a bit like Renee Zelleger replying to Tom Cruise in the movie “Jerry Maquire”. Though she actually said, “you had me at hello”. Our first reading had me at let me sing for my beloved.

I mistakenly thought [when I first studied this text] that we would be hearing a bit of romance from the prophet Isaiah. There is romance in the Bible, and I am still, yes even at my age, a sucker for a bit of romance.

Sadly, though the reading, is instead a metaphorical prophecy of judgement against Israel and Judah, pictured as God’s vineyard, for their lack of justice. (2) It does not make for pretty reading.
Now we can understand God’s justice as a reflection of God’s love for what is right and good for everyone. But the image given by Isaiah is a very challenging metaphor for a love song – pointing out what’s gone wrong. “I will make it a waste. …I will command the clouds that rain no more upon it”.

In terms of love songs rather than romance movies, perhaps it’s more in line with Taylor Swift and her iconic break-up ballads where she too is quite clear about what’s gone wrong and what she might do.

I’ll leave it for you, whether you’re a movie buff, music fan, or perhaps a political science fan there’s something in it for everyone!

I thought I would just jump to the next reading to see what nugget of wisdom might be in that for me to draw inspiration to share with folks this morning. I mean we do listen to three readings every Sunday! …

• The second reading comes from New Testament and is generally a letter which was written to early followers by an early teacher of the faith, you may also hear it referred to as an Epistle as in, a written letter.)

Sigh, after reading through the 2nd reading, … do you recall it?

Well, if you do recall or if you go back to it you may feel a bit like I do when I turn on the telly and it goes straight to whatever (how do I say this in polite language?) very broody violent melodrama crime fighting action series my beloved is currently watching while I’m generally off reading cosy mysteries or a theological exposé. I felt shocked.

The letter excerpt this morning was written to a people who were facing persecution for their faith in following Jesus. And Jesus preached a ministry of love and caring for others equally.

The letter was and is a reminder that life is tough when you seek to step out of the cycle of violence, segregation, corruption and overconsumption, the norm or even policy in some places and speak a message of justice and equality.

Those who went before us and suffered for their faith in answering the Jesus call to love and justice are now thought of as the “great cloud of witnesses” – people of faith who suffered for their message and stayed committed to God through great trial and heartache – they, in essence, surround us.
We hear their story to encourage us to stay firm, and stay faithful in our desire for and working for the just care of everyone regardless of gender, race, sexual preference, age … you name the difference, the prejudice, the stereotype …the ones who are left behind, unseen, …sometimes it could be you or me or someone we turned our back on …

It’s tricky – I/we know! But we believe its worth staying steadfast. In Jesus there is the gift of life, love and a sense of something greater than us which makes the difference.

But I still thought hmmm a tricky text so I would read on for something even easier to reflect on…

The third reading we heard, also from the New Testament, is from the Gospels. We stood for this reading because it is considered to be a direct record of the words and teaching of Jesus. We sing a special hymn or song before the Gospel to set it apart as something significant – as so we are grateful this morning to have heard you all from Macleans College sing Voice of Oceans by Daniel Bondaczuk ( accompanied by the piano and organ) before the Gospel reading.

In the reading this morning, attributed to Luke, we hear of Jesus grieving his upcoming suffering, recognising the conflict that will arise over his message, and he challenges the people to discern the true nature of the time they live in to see the injustice that carries on around them.
He uses “fire” is used as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit’s work in challenging the status quo, confronting injustice, and sparking social change, even if it leads to conflict and division within families and communities.

This fire can be seen as the Holy Spirit’s power to dismantle oppressive structures, challenge injustice, and create space for God’s reign of love and justice.
Christ is not saying we must have division, but we do need to – get in there, learn to do the hard work be both ‘peace-maker’, and ‘source-of-division’ from all we’ve known before that does not support justice and care.

We are called in this text to critically examine our own complicity in systems of injustice and to actively work towards a more just and equitable world, even if it means challenging the status quo.
We are to seek God in seeking to understand how to respond in faithful and transformative ways.

The passage encourages us to live as agents of God’s kingdom, actively working for a world where love, justice, and peace prevail. We are called to be community, to be good neighbours and caring people.

What I realised, in preparing for this morning, is that whichever reading you choose as your focus text – the message is clear, we are called to seek justice and care for all God’s people and creation. To live with an inspired clarity of purpose, to speak with ruthless grace and to stay engaged with the bountiful hope for all the world.

In faith through Christ, may we find our way to sing and live a true love song for the world.

God’s peace be upon you.

(1) Jerry Maguire (1996). The iconic line, “You had me at hello,” is spoken by Dorothy Boyd (played by Renée Zellweger) to Jerry Maguire (played by Tom Cruise) in a pivotal scene. This line is from a romantic scene where Jerry declares his love for Dorothy. The phrase has become a popular cultural reference.
(2) Lectionary Resources: Proper 15C from Sacredise