22-Oct-15

Gospel LK 12:49-53
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Reflection:
Here Jesus sets forth two realities of discipleship: Commitment to a person or a cause brings with it both division and sacrifice.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire......"
Using an idiom of today, Jesus may as well have said to his disciples, boys I've come to upset the apple cart and there's going to be Hell to pay.
"Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."
Jesus knew that spreading the message of God's love and forgiveness would cause great division among people who lived by a mentality of an "eye for an eye" and death by stoning for anyone who broke religious law.
Jesus understood that the inevitable effect of his coming and his message would be the division of families, allegiances and even countries.
"There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!"
Throughout history, the consequences of challenging established law and unjust practices have been punishment and even death. It was clear to Jesus that to bring about peace on earth he would have to die upon a cross.
His death and resurrection awakened the hearts and minds of men and women to the realization that unless self-centeredness and self-interest give way to love and justice for all people, the fires of unrest will continue to blaze.
Those who believe in Christ's message and his sacrifice will always give of themselves to put out the flames of injustice and bring about the love and hope of Jesus Christ on earth.

"Do not give up your dreams of a more just world." Pope Francis