Saturday 8 February 2025
St Luke 12: 4 – 12
Jesus said: ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ‘And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.’
Reflection
I don’t really believe in ‘a place’ called Hell – but that’s a conversation for another time.
For now, I am struck by Jesus’ words in the opening lines of this text: ‘Do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more… fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into Hell.’ That is uncomfortable reading – even for someone like me, who lives in relative safety. I always try to have my wits about me, but I am not usually confronting anyone or anything that is seeking to hurt me, let alone kill me. Yet, I look around at our world and it seems there are too many who presume – and exercise – the power to kill the bodies of countless people; those who seem committed to wiping out whole swathes of humanity. It seems a very BIG ask for those in the line of fire not to be afraid.
Jesus urges his listeners to fear the one who ‘has authority to cast into hell’ – but I think there are many people living in the midst of ‘hell’- right here, right now, right before our eyes. True, those who have been killed are now beyond hurt – but I can’t begin to imagine the trauma for those left behind, whose loved ones have been wiped out, whose worlds have been decimated, who don’t know whether or when they will be next. What is this, if not hell?
Jesus reminds us that not one sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight. Not one strand of hair! But I don’t know how comforting that is if you live in the middle of destruction and death. I don’t know how comforting I find it even from the safety of outside looking in!
So, I find myself wrestling with my understanding of God, of faith, and the realities of our world. And the truth is, sometimes the three just don’t hang together.
At times like that, what else can I do but pray?
Prayer
God, who is love,
We know you love every one of your people.
Rescue those who are forced to negotiate the depths of hell.
Thwart the plans of those who exercise power through violence.
And equip us all with compassion and courage
To be agents of your justice
And instruments of your peace. Amen