Luke 12:49-56
49 “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
A kindled fire
This Sunday, we are invited to reflect on a text that is considered hard to understand and absorb. We need to put it into context to perceive Jesus’ teaching.
St. Luke starts with Jesus’ ascension to Jerusalem in chapter 9, verse 51, "As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem." We are going up to Jerusalem with Jesus. We see and hear Him reminding the disciples of what is going to happen to Him there, including the consequences of His passion and crucifixion.
As usual, Jesus speaks the language of His time using images and metaphors to make His teaching more accessible to His audience. What about FIRE?
The first time fire appears in the Bible goes back to God appearing to Moses in the burning bush; "And the angel of the Lord appeared in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush..." Exodus 3:2.
John the Baptist mentioned fire when he was preaching about Jesus‘ Baptism in Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water..., He will baptize you with the Holy spirit and fire.”
Later at the Pentecost, in Acts 2:3, “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them."
Fire in Eastern culture is the symbol of purification, restoration and reformation. "The pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as it seemed best to him." Jeremiah 18:4
Jesus says, “I am the way the truth and the life" (John 14:6). This is what Jesus brings to humanity. Those who believe and live this belief are separated from those who deny it or refuse it. In the same house, we may find believers and non-believers. They are separated by the the Truth and the Way.
Didn't Simeon say to Jesus’ mother in Luke 2:35, "…the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too?” Those who believe it and live it are called to be a light for others. They are called to never condemn anybody, but through their demeanor and good deeds they attract others to join the Truth that Jesus is!
God does not want anyone to perish, but to repent and retrieve life. Tell them, 'As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I don't want the wicked people to die, but that they turn from their way and live” Ezekiel 33:11.
The fire of faith that separates the faithful from others becomes a light for all, to the faithful a rule of life and to unbelievers a call to repentance.
Many people experience this fact of faith separation within the same family or social circles, but that should never create prejudice, intolerance or closed-mindedness. Keep the Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12, "In everything, then, do to others as you want others to do to you!"