This Sunday, we'll hear Jesus in Luke 12 announce his plan to bring "division" on earth rather than "peace." It's an emotionally difficult and theologically enigmatic passage with which to wrestle. What does Jesus mean when he speaks of division? He follows the striking declaration with what I take to be his point:

"Father [will be] against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

You see, Jesus has come to adopt children into the family of the Father. We are taken from one family to another. Jesus is relativizing every tie we have on earth in relation to our new status as children of the Most High. To belong to God, more so than our family of origin or political affiliation or any other identity marker, is our most distinguishing characteristic.

How do we live in this new reality as a family of God? That's not only what we'll talk about on Sunday, but it's what we will experience as we confirm new members of All Saints Dallas. Together, we will covenant to live together not just as friends or neighbors, but as brothers and sisters. So deep is our connection in Christ, that Jesus speaks of every other relation in our lives as being "divided" by comparison.

I pray you are able to join us Sunday as we come around a common table to dine together as family!