[Rom. 6:1b-11; Mt. 10:24-39]
Grace to all of you who are one in Christ. Amen.
What’s this sword Jesus is talking about?
In the 1999 mini series about his story, Jesus is tempted by being shown what his future followers will do in his name. A woman is accused of being a witch and burned at the stake. A crusader knight charges, sword in hand, shouting God wills it. Soldiers in World War I claim that God is with them. We could add other instances: denominations excommunicating each other; a televangelist swindling his congregation; a priest or pastor sexually abusing a child.
‘I’ve come to bring the sword, Jesus says, and I’ll tear families apart, because in my name my followers will argue and wound and kill. In my name; I might as well have been guilty of it myself.’ The sword Jesus is talking about, is the sword we, his followers, insist on putting in his hand. The sword is our sin, and Jesus’ cross to bear.
We can almost feel Jesus’ deep sadness and disappointment when he says it. He takes responsibility for his followers, even if they’ll ruin his reputation, his Gospel, and disregard his message completely. Reluctantly, he admits that his teachings will be or ignored, or worse, twisted.
Because we, his followers, are called to a different kind of life, laying down this sword, and living the life the Master shows us. We should know better, “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” We were given more than a second chance, more than a new opportunity: WE ARE A NEW CREATION.
In the US, it’s very common to acknowledge a soldier or a veteran with the words ‘thank you for your service.’ These are people that carry weapons all day, it’s their job, their vocation: these weapons kill, that’s what they we’re designed to do, but the hope expressed in the phrase of thanks, is that they’re used in service, in protection, that they’re used responsibly.
At her coronation ceremony, Elizabeth II was handed the so-called Curtana or the Sword of Mercy. Curtana is a real sword, a real weapon, but is has a blunt edge, hence the connotation with mercy.
The only sword Christians should be holding is the sword of blind Lady Justice; a sword dividing up the economic surpluses; a sword that represents not excludes; a sword that cuts down barriers; a sword of mercy; a sword that serves and protects; the sword of the Spirit, as St Paul writes, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:17).
The sword we as Christians carry must represent a whole new world, a whole new attitude, a new kind of royal regalia representing our King and his Kingdom, a new kind of service.
“...whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”