20th Sun in ordinary time C

Twentieth Sunday  in Ordinary Time © 

18 August 2013

Luke 12, 49-53

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!  Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in=law against mother-in-law.” 

It’s not possible without fire

In a clearly  prophetic style, Jesus sums up his whole life with a few unusual words: “ I have come to cast fire in the world, and how I wish it were already burning!” What is Jesus talking about? The mysterious character of his language leads exegetes to find various answers.  In any case, his symbol of fire invites us to approach the mystery of his being as to something more ardent and passionate.

   The fire that burns within him, is the passion for God and compassion for those who suffer. The unfathomable love that animates his entire life will never be  uncovered. His mystery will never remain enclosed in dogmatic formulas nor in books of learned men. No one will ever write a definitive book on him. Jesus attracts and sets on fire, troubles and purifies. No one can follow him with a  cold heart or dulled by  piety.

    His word sets hearts on fire. He offers himself in friendship to the most excluded, raises hope in prostitutes and trust in the most despised sinners, he fights against everything that harms a human being. He fights formalism in religion, inhuman religious practices,  and strict interpretations of the law. Nothing and no one can chain down his freedom to do good. We will never be able to follow him while routinely following a    religious path, We will never be able to follow him by living a religious routine or the conventions of what’s right and proper. 

   Jesus stirs up conflicts , he does not stop them. He has not come to bring a false peace, but tensions, confrontations and divisions. In fact, he brings conflict in our own hearts. It is not possible to protect oneself against his call behind the shield of religious rites and social practices. No religion will protect us from his gaze. No agnosticism will free us from his challenge. Jesus calls us to live in the truth and to love without egoism.

   His fire has not been quenched on his being submerged in the deep waters of death. Having been raised to a new life, his spirit still burns through history. The first followers feel him burn in their hearts when they hear his words while he journeyed with them.

   Where is it possible today to feel that fire of Jesus? Where can we experience the power of his creative freedom? When do our hearts burn as we read his Gospel? Where do we passionately live following his footsteps? Even though Christian faith seems to be dying out among us, the fire Jesus brought in the world continues to burn under the embers. We must not let it die out. Without hearts afire it is not possible to follow Jesus.

Pagola/Vally D'Souza sj