The Gospel for Thursday of the 29th week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 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 a against her mother in law. It is interesting to me that the Gospels are usually giving you a clear insight into the disposition of Jesus when he’s giving a particular message. And here he’s very frustrated that the thing that he wants so badly to ignite in people’s hearts is, is the fire of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God with him. And he gets very, very frustrated when he doesn’t see people understanding it.
So what he says clearly is for those few who will understand it recognize the fact that you will not be welcomed and accepted by those who still follow the ways of the temple. And that’ll be the majority of people, he tells us all. You will be in the minority when you are speaking my message to the masses of people that don’t even begin to fathom what it’s about. Do not lose heart. Keep saying what you believe. Knowing what you believe and living it is key.
And that’s the fire that Jesus wants to establish in you. After your reflection, I’ll close with a prayer. Foreign Father, open us to this transforming fire that purifies things in us that we continue to hang on to as we open our hearts to the fullness of your message. We are always in the process of growing and changing. We’re never finished. So keep that flame of faith in our hearts as we continue our journey toward wholeness.
And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.