The Fire That Wakes Us Up
A short reflection on Isaiah 5:1-11 and Luke 12:49-56
Some Bible passages comfort us. These confront us.
In Isaiah 5, God sings a love song about a vineyard – cared for, protected, and full of promise – only to find it has produced “wild grapes.” Instead of justice, there is violence. Instead of righteousness, there is a cry. Isaiah’s words reveal a truth still relevant today: when the systems we create favour the few and ignore the cries of the many, we stray far from God’s intention for us.
In Luke 12, Jesus speaks with equal fire. His words may seem harsh – he talks about bringing division rather than peace – but they are not a rejection of peace itself. Rather, Jesus confronts the kind of peace that hides injustice. The fire he brings is not destructive for its own sake. It is the fire of refining, of truth, of love that burns away illusion.
These passages remind us that real faith is not about avoiding conflict. Sometimes, it’s about naming what’s broken, challenging the comfortable, and choosing the harder path of justice. The good news is this: God is not absent in the fire. God is in the middle of it – calling us to live with courage, compassion, and truth.
God calls us to confront systems of injustice, even when it is uncomfortable or costly.
True peace requires truth – not the silence of avoidance, but the courage to seek what is just.
Ngā Mihi
Philip
p.s. Worship leaders: You can buy a complete Order of Service and Sermon based on these readings here: https://philipgarsidebooks.com/products/worship-at-hand-pentecost-10-17-aug-2025