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Jesus Cause of Division






Jesus Cause of Division
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lk 12: 49 – 53

Introduction

In our reading today, Jesus tells us that he has come to set the earth on fire! These are strange words especially if taken literally in today’s context. But it just tells us how passionate Jesus really is in renewing the face of the earth. However, such desire to renew the earth comes at a price especially at the heavy price of breaking up relationships that matter most to his followers.

The Gospel

            “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! 50 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

Today’s reading invites us to reflect on Jesus’ mission which is to set the earth on fire! Fire has always been a symbol of God’s word in both Old and New Testaments. God’s word is like a fire that lights and brightens everything that surrounds it. But fire also has the capacity to ignite and set everything ablaze, reducing everything it touches into either cinder or purified material. God’s word, just like fire, can either light up one’s life or purify one’s soul.
Jesus came to do both. Jesus brings fire to light up our life, showing us the right path to take. But Jesus also brings fire that purifies and uncovers the inner workings of the human heart, thus revealing and exposing the heart for what it is.
These twofold mission of Jesus, of bringing light and purification makes him to many, a dividing figure. While some people find light and a new kind of life in Jesus, others find in him, espousing a completely different world view that doesn’t fit into their present lifestyle. Consequently, they reject everything that Jesus proposes and at times violently oppose those who advocate or preach his teachings.
Rightly has Jesus described his mission to his disciples, telling them that he did not come to bring peace, but division; a division so deep that it cuts and tears apart tightly-knit family relationships and acquaintances.  
Such division was witnessed by the early Christians, who in following Jesus, suffered persecution and even death from those who rejected the message of Jesus. There were even times when their own family members persecuted them and handed them over to authorities who eventually punished them because they were followers of Jesus.
But even in our own present context, we see this division even within the church itself; Christ’s own body torn into a fractious community. This division becomes clear especially when some of us promote violence instead of peace; when we prefer to use insulting language instead of being meek; when we choose to exalt ourselves over others instead of remaining  humble; when we continue to fan the flames of intrigue and infighting instead of becoming peacemakers; when we discriminate instead of being inclusive; when we judge others instead of understanding and being considerate to people. The division that Jesus talks about happens even in God’s own household, where brother turns against a brother, a sister against a sister, priests against their own parish and priests against their own bishops.
This gospel wants us to look inside of us to see if the light that Jesus wanted to set ablaze has indeed been lit inside of us; whether Jesus’ own light has made us into light for others or has only caused more divisions within the community because we refuse to be purified by God’s purifying fire.
We pray the Spirit to set our hearts ablaze so that we too may learn to bring fire on the earth like Jesus.


Prayer

Dear Lord, when I see the divisions within our community, I see that the fire that you wanted to bring to us hasn’t really purified our hearts. Our sins continue to cause so much division even among those who are close to us, and even within our own Christian community. Come Spirit, set our hearts ablaze with your love so that we may bring the light of Christ to our world. Amen.




“ They saw tongues like flames of a fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” – Acts 2: 2- 4

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