The gospel today is very confusing, and one keeps wondering what Christ meant by his words of fire, baptism and division. He speaks of casting fire on earth and wished it were blazing already. Does he want fire to destroy His people? He speaks again of baptism He intends to accomplish. Is He talking of the Baptism of John the Baptist at the Jordan? Or does He mean another thing altogether? He speaks also of bringing division within the family. How can the Prince of Peace rock violence? Would that not be contradictory of his values and what he stands for? We shall discuss this further in this reflection.
Jesus’ Mission and Suffering
The gospel today is set in the context of Jesus speaking about His mission and the impending suffering and death He intends to undertake for the salvation of His people. He calls the mission of His suffering the ‘baptism’ He must accomplish. The suffering is His crucifixion and death on the cross. He regards it as baptism because it will be transformational and changes the old order. As baptism brings about a new personality in Christ, so too would his suffering on the cross, as we should be washed and redeemed by His blood.
Fire
It is also within the same context that He used the idea of casting fire on the earth because his own fire is for cleansing and for purification and not for destruction. We must remember the tongue of fire on the Apostles on Pentecost day. It was for sanctification and empowerment of the Apostles. That is the reason behind our invocation of the Holy Ghost’s fire in prayer for purification and sanctification. It does not destroy, especially when we invoke it against an enemy with the intention to destroy. Such prayer remains unanswered because the fire of the Holy Ghost is for sanctification and not for destruction.
Jesus was passionate about his mission. He wanted the fire to have started blazing already to purify us like baptism would cleanse and set us free from original and actual sins as well as from our ties to the evil one. He was in distress to see this accomplished. Thus, He said to his disciples:
‘I came to cast fire on the earth and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how great is my distress until it accomplished!’ (Lk 12: 49-50)
Jesus is desperate with His mission to save. He speaks to his disciples about it because he wants to get it done. He wondered why people could read and interpret the signs of the present time but are unable to understand the urgency of his second coming and make difficult decision for their future life. He wants us to make that decision – that of following Him. It’s urgent and important to Him.
Jesus’ Mission and Family Division
Jesus, in the cause of his mission speaks about the division in the family which will occur between parents and children, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. He never meant violence but rather the commitment of following Him would take precedence over families ties and friendship. Every member of the family would be able to make a choice between God or the world. But for those committed to Christ, it is God or nothing. That is the division Christ is talking about.
We must give priority to God to benefit the fruits of His mission, the mission of salvation. Once the option of faith is of high priority to any member of the family, and the commitment of not going contrary to it even when the family is not supportive but are bound to respect your decision, that’s what Christ refers to when He speaks of division in the family. It is not violence but respect of religious freedom which allows people to follow their faith irrespective of the cost.
We witness this in most families where members are people of different faith belief systems and even of no faith. They still live together and respect each other’s belief and way of life. Though it is a problem in families where there is little or no understanding or where people are ignorant about human freedom. Especially in developing nations where some people may belong or not belong to a church group or denomination. But we are bound in conscience to respect each other’s freedom and faith belief.
Conclusion
Jesus, as a teacher uses different methods to put across the urgency of His message to his followers. The sole aim is for salvation. He uses different methods to attract attention and drive home understanding. That’s the reason He used the words: ‘fire’, ‘baptism’, and ‘division’ for attention and reflection. The Prince of Peace cannot rock violence. He used those words for His followers to understand the urgency of His mission. We should not let this time to pass. Let us be serious in following Him. The time is now or never.
Peace be with you.
