Jesus, at the beginning of today's Gospel(Luke 12:49-53), says to his disciples: I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!
Jesus' mission was to cast fire upon the earth. Not a fire that destroys but one that purifies. One that kindles in us the desire for the reign of God.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, then tells his disciples that he has not come to establish peace but division. This Gospel is difficult and a real challenge but we see Jesus stand strong and ready to weed out evil.
In the reading from Hebrews we are asked to "rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross..."
It is not easy to be a prophet as Jeremiah knew. In the first reading today he is thrown into a cistern and left to die. Teresa of Avila once said to Jesus that he had so few friends because of the way he treated them! Gold is purified in fire; Jesus wants us to be on fire with the love of God. We pray to the Holy Spirit to Come, enkindle in our hearts the fire of Divine Love. And we shall renew the face of the earth!
Fire is full of energy and spreads quickly. Fire is a symbol of the love burning in the Heart of Jesus and in our hearts. Let us set the world on fire with love!
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