Fire vs. Peace
Scripture
Luke 12:49-53
Reflection
Dear sisters and brothers,
How do we feel when we hear the scripture text from today’s gospel reading?
It actually disturbs us.
We believe that Jesus is synonymous with peace, love, joy, and hope.
However, Jesus tells us today that I have come to bring fire on the earth, not peace on earth.
It must disturb us as followers of Jesus Christ.
It disturbed me too.
But...
It caused me to think about things from a different angle.
Jesus cannot bring fire.
He cannot go against his nature of being in love, peace, joy and hope.
Therefore,
What is the real message that Jesus Christ wants to convey through this scripture text?
Fire is good.
Fire brings many things when it is used in a controlled manner.
It can be used for cooking food.
It can be used to mould many usable material things.
Therefore, fire can positively bring good in the world.
In the same way, we have seen a seed.
A small seed can sprout only when it understands that there must be a division.
Seed cannot bear fruit unless it accepts division.
It is true of the genetic division of cells in all living beings.
This is the process of new birth.
This is the process of growth.
This is the process of transformation.
This is the development process.
Unless there is a division, there is no new birth, growth, development, transformation, and so on.
There must be a division.
Division does not divide us.
Actually, division brings newness.
What is important in this process?
The division needs to be accepted.
Revolting against division, we block growth.
We have many divisions.
But, division does not bring fire if we accept it as a natural process for transformation.
What is the need of the hour?
The ways and means to bring peace are to accept differences, appreciate differences, and celebrate differences.
Jesus clearly conveys a powerful message by saying, "I have come to bring fire on the earth. I have not come to bring peace on earth. "
Seed cannot claim that it cannot divide.
Then there could not be a plant or tree.
Cells cannot say they cannot divide.
Then, there cannot be growth and newness in living things.
Jesus wants us to experience newness, a new birth, growth, and transformation.
In the Trinitarian relationship, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit convey the same message.
"Are we ready to accept the division?"
In other words, are we ready to bring fire to our lives as Jesus wishes so that we can experience a new birth and a transformation in our lives?
May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen.
