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! Lk 12:49-50
Friends, God is good, all the time.
Most people will probably not relish Jesus' message today because it doesn't come across as high-grade talking points or high pitch sale presentation typical of politicians and salespeople. A challenging message carrying words like blazing fire and division in families will undoubtedly lack the appeal it intends to evoke. Yet, an adequate understanding of the passage should elicit a depth of appreciation and response to the invitation presented therein.
Three essential things emerge in the passage. First, Jesus announces the scope of his all-inclusive mission in the world. His mission is to light the earth with the fire of love and to save all of creation. The passage then is intended to reinforce God’s salvation plan for the world.
Second, Jesus declares his great desire to complete this mission for us. His baptism of death will be the means for saving the world, and he would permit nothing to stop him from accomplishing this for us. Such honest and pure desire of the savior for us should mark our own response to him.
Third, Jesus announces the invitation for all people to stand with him as the savior of the world. Remember that only Jesus had a universal mission to save the world. No political or religious leader before Jesus ever spoke and enacted behaviors towards universal deliverance and salvation, nor will anyone after him ever do so. And we know that he did everything for us.
Hence, when Jesus talks of division in the family, he does not draw the battle line nor sound the battle alarm, but he calls us to build an alliance with him as the savior. We need Jesus and we must remain under his authority. When nations, families, and institutions turn against Jesus and his all-inclusive mission, it is then that experiences of destruction set in to take away from us the peace that is belongs to us in Jesus. In light of Jesus' mission for our redemption, St. Paul urges us not to relent in our quest to rely on the power of Christ working within us and be strengthened by it both in the Church and in Christ.
Prayer blessings: Memorare- Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.