(Jesus preaching - James Tissot)
"I have come to set the earth on fire"
Luke 12: 49-53
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081422.cfm
For those of us who grew up in the 1960’s, we well
remember the turbulence of the time.
Then, the most controversial issue was the War in Vietnam and race relations,
desegregation, in this country. It was
the time of President John Kennedy, of Martin Luther King and Bobby
Kennedy. It was a time of protest and
demonstrations of outspoken civil leaders. Yet, in the background were musical
artists like Peter, Paul and Mary and later Simon and Garfunkel, and others who
would sing of peace and brotherhood and peaceful protest. We spoke of Hippies and flower-power and held
up our two fingers in the peace sign.
The culture of today is in its way not much
different. The deep emotions of people,
particularly on politics and social issues such as immigration, the sanctity of
human life and the understanding of marriage and family has reached more
disturbing heights. Sadly, it seems these days’ people don’t respectfully
discuss disagreements with one another – they simply shout and scream at each
other never considering that one’s opinion may not be as truthful as they
profess.
The Church itself
has certainly gone through its own reinterpretation and divisions not just
since the Second Vatican Council in the 1960’s but also over the last near 500
years since the Catholic Monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 objections on the
door of a German Cathedral in 1517. Certainly, long before that event we saw
the great Schism of the Christian world between east and west in the 11th
century.
Yet, we still see signs of unity, of peace and good will
and generosity all around us. Many are
doing good especially for the poor and the forgotten. We have a Pope who has
made such a powerful impact on the World by his example and words and his call
to mercy and Christian generosity to those on the margins of society. However,
he has been criticized for his stand on immigrants both in the Catholic world
and out. We can still say God is producing much light in the midst of what may
appear darkness. But also, like a fire that causes a profound change in the
forest, so too can the message of the Gospel be life transforming. We see fires
blazing as well as fresh growth. So goes
the nature of a broken world; a world broken by sin and redeemed by a Savior.
Our Scriptures this weekend, particularly the Gospel from
Luke 12, have Jesus speaking of that same fire: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already
blazing!” Woah!
What happened to forgiveness, mercy, and the compassion
for the poor and suffering? That doesn’t
sound like a blazing fire on the earth but rather a call to peace and dignity.
Or, what happened to Jesus the "Prince of Peace" we proclaim at
Christmas?
Jesus further emphasizes: “Do you think that I have come
to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division . . .”
Again we may wonder what our Lord is getting at. What is this “fire” and “division” he speaks
of? So, we might be tempted to simply turn the page and find another less
threatening passage like Jesus speaking on the “lilies in the field” or about
the dignity of a child. Is the message and culture of the turbulent 60’s and
the powerful emotion of today a reflection of Jesus’ own words? But, images of
fire are used throughout the Bible and even in our liturgy.
Still, if we look throughout the Scriptures both Old and
New Testaments, we may be surprised how often the image of fire is used. In the Book of Genesis, we read that God’s
creation began with a burst of energy: “Let there be light.” You can almost
hear the “big bang” that scientists have spoken about.
From a burning bush Moses heard the call of God to go and
lead his people out of slavery. There
was a pillar of fire which stood as a kind of guard between the Hebrews and the
oncoming army of Pharaoh before the famed crossing of the Red Sea. The prophet
Elijah was taken up to heaven in a burning chariot.
In Luke’s Gospel we hear of John the Baptist prediction
that the Messiah will come to “baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit.
“Later, after the resurrection God sends the Holy Spirit in wind and tongues of
fire. And there are certainly other
examples when the image of fire was used to express the display of divine power
and the effect of prophetic preaching.
In our beautiful Easter Vigil liturgy each year, we begin
with the lighting of the new fire, the tall new Easter candle is lit and the
fire from that candle spreads through the whole Church to smaller candles held
by the congregation as the resurrection is proclaimed.
While the scriptural images are strong even more obvious
is the power of Christ’s word both for unity and for division. Jesus well knew that his message would create
controversy; that people would ultimately have to make a choice whether to
follow him or not and whether to stay in the Church or not. And we still today
need to make that same choice.
One scholar mentions that Luke’s Gospel reflected the
experience of early Christians who found themselves in the midst of a hostile
environment. Sometimes, those who chose
to follow Christ caused division even within their own family members; those
who gave their lives rather than compromise their Christian faith are
designated martyrs of the Church and held in great honor.
While there are many examples of how life giving and
inspirational our faith may be there are also examples that for those who truly
believe and follow the faith, they may well become a sign of contradiction and
in some cases ridicule or even worse, may pay with their own lives as history
is still showing us today. I believe the fire of indifference and in some cases
hostility against the truth preached by the Church burns brightly.
It seems the word of God today reminds us that the “fire”
Jesus came to light on the earth is still burning brightly but that we are
still called to make a choice – for Christ and his Church or not. Renowned speaker Bishop Robert Baron of Los
Angeles has coined the term “beige” Catholicism. He states that the post Vatican II Church
culture became what it was not intended to be and many today simply practice a
more watered down and very comfortable version of our faith particularly
through ignorance of its teachings.
I don’t think that Jesus’ promotes beige Christianity
when he says that his mission will bring division on those who follow him
seriously. To choose Christ and his Way or not is our everyday opportunity for
transformation.
Our first reading from Jeremiah tells the story of
Jeremiah’s own rejection and near death when he is left to die in a cistern
because his message was to “demoralizing” to others. Jeremiah had spoken truth
from God, the hearers found it too disturbing to their way of life, and they tried
to eliminate him – but we still read Jeremiah’s word today.
When applied to everyday life and real situations Jesus’
proposal of conversion through God’s
forgiveness, mercy, love and reconciliation and the truth about the
human person and God’s care for all humanity is often rejected in favor of a
more self-centered, rather than Gospel centered, culture. The “me first” and “throw away” culture of
today that we hear about sorely needs an alternative. The Eucharist each time calls us to not be
beige Catholics and Christians but to see in Jesus’ own sacrifice a model for
our lives; of how we are to live in this world.
The French theologian from the 1950’s Tielhard de Chardin
once wrote: “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and
gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And then, for the second time in the history
of the world, man will have discovered fire.”
God, for ever and ever
(Collect of Mass)
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