The great composer Beethoven used to sometimes play a trick on “polite salon audiences,” especially when he guessed they “weren’t really interested” in serious music at all.
He would perform a piece on the piano, one of his own “slow movements” perhaps, which would be “so gentle and beautiful” that everyone would be lulled into thinking “the world” was a “soft, cozy place,” where they could think “beautiful thoughts” and “relax into semi-slumber”…almost comatose…
Then, just as the final notes were dying away, Beethoven would bring his whole forearm down “with a crash” across the keyboard, and he would laugh at the shock that he gave to the assembled audience.
“A bit cruel and impolite” perhaps but the shock of that crash of notes interrupting the “peaceful melody” is a good image for what Jesus had to say at the end of Luke chapter 12.
It was a gotcha-kind-of-moment!
Not all music is meant to be soft and beautiful, like a lullaby.
Sometimes music is meant to go through abrupt changes. Some may refer to this as being “an accent.” Or a startling kind of change…in tempo – and in mood setting…
Kinga mentioned a “change of key” – from major to minor or perhaps a change in the tempo.
You might refer to this as being a mingling of discordant sounds – especially a clashing or as an unresolved musical interval or chord.
Whatever – you call it, however you define it, it was disconcerting.
It is a reflection of life. Life is not always gentle and beautiful and soft. There are tough times and tough moments.
Sometimes we tend to forget that life is not easy or peaceful for everyone, for some – every day is a struggle. Every day!
The beginning of Luke’s gospel proclaims that Jesus will guide our feet into the way of peace.
And near the end of the gospel, the “resurrected Jesus” – appears among his followers and offers to them a “benediction of peace…”
For the most part, Jesus comes off as this very peaceful, loving, understanding and all forgiving kind of a guy.
Then we get today’s passage – and it is as if he takes his entire forearm and brings it down across the keyboard.
“Jesus, what are you doing? Jesus what are you saying?”
This is a kind of a corrective. It is purposefully meant to be an abrupt-in-your-face kind of statement.
The kingdom is not always filled with “Good News.” Sometimes bad news slips its way even into the Kingdom of God.
This is reality. This is life. This is real life in a very real world. Things can come crashing down around us.
“Not everything is love, love, love.”
Sunflowers, daisies and unicorns are not everywhere to be found. There is a reality to life and living.
It is a correction.
It is a gotcha!
Someday you may be forced to pick up your cross – and to follow after Jesus…and just where this leads you – you may not want to go.
Families do become divided. Individuals within families will become divided.
This is a reality check.
This is life in the real world. This is life as we know it to be.
How can the one who tells a parable of reconciliation between father and son be the same one who set parents against their children and children against their parents?
Did he not bless with peace the sick that he healed?
Did he not teach his followers to bring greetings of peace as they traveled the country to share his good news?
Considering everything we know about the “loving peace bearing Jesus,” indeed the words we hear him speak in the gospel lesson this evening – are “as shocking” as Beethoven’s forearm bearing down on those piano keys.
Divisions happen.
Discordance happens.
Divisions, discord and conflict – whether we like it or not is natural…
It is bound to happen…in a given life time.
What we do about it – will always speak volumes about “who we are” and “who we represent!”
We have all been forewarned!