10 Pentecost - Luke 12:49-56

Every now and then, when Scripture is read in worship, people listen closely enough ... to

laugh.

It happens sometimes in Advent, when Luke wraps up his report of John the Baptist.

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of

vipers!"

Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"...

On and on he goes, preaching repentance and fire and fear, which may be why no

one ever called him John the Lutheran.

"One who is more powerful than I is coming, he thundered.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat

into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

So, with these and many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Ha ha ha.

It's the same joke I told earlier, after reading Jesus's words: the gospel of the Lord.

This terrifying craziness is the good news.

Those paying close enough attention to laugh will hear the echoes immediately.

Jesus' words today sound like the promise of John coming true, and so they are.