[1] Peace
means different things to different people and in different times. To some, peace means that everything is
quiet, there are no disturbances, no conflict, no war; law and order prevail. These may be signs of real peace, but maybe
not. Our Gospel today Jesus starts, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were
already ablaze.”
As kids, we learned you shouldn’t
play with fire, it must be respected as it can get out of control in a hurry
and has tremendous destructive power for the surrounding woodlands, it’s
animals and other campers. Fire has the
ability to consume everything in its path.
Fire can also, when appropriately regulated and tended to can be used to
purify and refine.
In the Jerusalem Bible Jesus’
statement is stated slightly different saying, “I have come to bring fire to the earth…” So, he’s not necessarily speaking
of a fire that will consume the earth, rather he is speaking of bringing fire
to the outdoor earthen oven, commonly called the “earth” that’s found
near the house. Once again, Jesus is using the ordinary things of life to bring
meaning to his teaching.
The ideal householder, of Jesus’
time, had a house fronted by a walled courtyard that contained: an earthen oven
with a double stove, a millstone for grinding, a dung heap, along with chickens
and cattle. The earthen oven used the
dung as fuel. The dung heap was salted,
and salt plates were used as a catalyst to make the dung burn. Jesus is identifying himself with these salt
plates that are the catalyst to getting the earth’s blaze going. He has come to get things cooking.
For the last few weeks scripture
has been addressing the cost of following Jesus Christ, the cost of being his
disciple, the catalyst in sharing His Truth.
The cost for Jeremiah is rejection and being lowered into a
cistern. For Jesus, the cost will be his
pending persecution and death, the “baptism with which [he] must be
baptized.” The catalyst that sets the earth on fire is often divisive; dividing
nations, communities, churches, and even family members.
Many come to Church seeking to
hear Jesus’ message of peace, to feel good about themselves and their lives,
but Jesus’ message of peace also comes with a challenge to be a catalyst for living
Gospel Truths in our everyday lives: respect for life, preferential option for
the poor, acceptance of the alien among us, care for the widow & orphan and
care for all of God’s creation. Courageously
speaking these Truths can cost. It divides Father & Son, Mother & Daughter,
Brother & Sister.
This is why Paul is telling the
Hebrews, and us, to “persevere in running the race” even when
not all can understand or accept the message we need “to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.” His
passing from death to life is the catalyst that ignites the fire that purifies
us, separates us from the things, even the people that distract or draws us
from His Truth, and destroys our sin.
Jesus is warning us of the consequences of following him and challenging
us to choose what kind of fire we will experience, the type of igniter we will
be. You know what happens when you pour
gasoline on a flame? There is an uncontrolled
flare up, this is what happens Christians toss bible passages at irritated critics,
when Christians preach fire and brimstone condemning who they believe to be sinners.
To be an appropriately regulated flame,
that can purify, first, we must acknowledge that within each human being resides
the spark of divinity freely given by God.
This ember may be buried within a dung heap of sin, leaving some feeling
unworthy to approach the Sacraments. We are called to be the catalyst that ignites
and stirs the ember into the flame of faith.
We can only do this if we keep our own flame of faith burning through prayer,
study of scripture, reconciliation, and fed by the Body and Blood of our Savior
in the Eucharist. We are about to enter
into the purifying fire that prepares us to engage the world with Truth, mercy,
and love.
There are a couple of dismissal formulas
for the Mass that remind us we are sent in peace to … “announce the Gospel of the Lord” and the other to “Glorify the Lord by our lives” (my
favorite) meaning we need to speak, share, and live the Gospel Truths in our
everyday lives. In Pope Francis’ Angelus
address on August 14, 2016, he said: “The Apostolic courage which the Holy
Spirit ignites in us as a fire helps us overcome walls and barriers … [and
explore] … unexplored or uncomfortable paths, offering hope to those we meet.”
Keep the flame of faith alive in yourself, and be the
catalyst to bring fire to the earth, by living the gospel, no matter the cost.
[1] New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition ©
1986. Scriptures: Jer 38:4-6; 8-10; Heb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53.
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