Readings:
Sermon:
The world today is a very complex one. It demands that each of us applies discernment on a daily, if not hourly basis. Discernment is the ability to judge well and in the Bible, we find this quality closely aligned with wisdom or making decisions based on God’s will.
The word discernment is what Jesus is talking about at the end of Luke’s gospel reading today. In Chapter 12 Jesus is teaching and he gives many encouragements to his listeners, but also he shares some warnings. In this chapter, just before our passage is a parable about knowing the master’s will, and not just knowing the master’s will, but acting upon it. In this part of Luke, Jesus is making it clear that life as a Christian, part of the kingdom of God, following in Jesus’s footsteps, is not for the faint hearted. Moreover it most certainly isn’t a simple, easy choice. Jesus starkly warns that he comes to bring division.
Hearing this it seems so at odds with other Biblical passages, where Jesus is talking about peace and the importance of peace-making. As part of the discourse we know as the sermon on the mount he explicitly says ‘blessed, are the peacemakers’. Today the passage holds the image of a very different Jesus. One who is aware of the risks of following him; one who is aware of the ultimate sacrifice he himself will make. He has already had a small taste of opposition as at the end of Luke, Chapter 11 the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began and besiege Jesus with questions waiting to catch him in something he might say.
So the message from Jesus in the gospel today is that not everyone will understand what he’s saying and not everyone will want to follow him. Families may well be divided, but then he urges his listeners, and his followers, to exercise this gift of discernment.
He points out that if they see a cloud rising in the west, they know what it means.
I’m reminded of a recent walking church where we headed out in warm sunshine. Had a lovely walk, reflecting on our faith and the passage set for the day. We walked down a steep hill through a field of sweetcorn, around a lake and then on our way back up the hill we could see a huge black cloud building over the trees in the distance. It didn’t take much in terms of discernment to realise that this was a big thunderstorm building. As we went back up the hill towards the cars, the cloud grew and darkened, and we started to hear the rumble of thunder. The optimists amongst us, shrugged it off, and said ‘it’ll pass over’, or ‘we’ll get to the cars before the full storm reaches us’. Our discernment however was poor as the rain started to fall heavily about half a mile from the cars and we got soaked!
In the verse immediately following today’s gospel passage Jesus asks the question ‘why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?’ But that takes confidence and that takes discernment to be able to judge well.
So how do Christians today unlock this gift of discernment to find what is God’s will in any given situation?
Firstly, by staying close to God, through prayer which can be silent or spoken, through worship, by reading Scripture and receiving the sacraments. By drawing regularly into God’s presence, the easier it will be to discern God’s will. Secondly, by turning to their community of faith for counsel. Confidential discussion with mentors, leaders and fellow Christians can bring clarity in often unexpected ways.
Mostly likely, division and disagreement will be an on-going part of life but, as communities of faith and followers of Christ, there is much that can be done to discern well. It is important not to forget that all Christians today are part of God’s bigger story. The Hebrews reading narrates faith going back to the very beginning of all things. Do not be surprised encounter division and opposition, but do be encouraged in facing it.
Questions:
- When did you need to exercise the gift of discernment recently in life outside of your church?
- When did you need to exercise the gift of discernment recently in life inside of your church?
- Is there anything you are prompted to do to sharpen your skills discernment?