20th SUNDAY, 14 AUGUST 2022: JER 38. 4-6, 8-10; HEB 12. 1-4; LUKE 12. 49-53
Thrust: Fire that divides!
Indicative: In a world that is often lukewarm and indifferent with regard to God and good, we need to be persons ablaze with fire
1. In today’s gospel, Jesus states shockingly: I came to bring division and not peace”. This really disturbs and upsets anyone and everyone because we believe that he is the prince of peace. We pray to him for peace amidst all our troubles and disturbances. But, he openly states that he came not to bring peace but to disturb it.
2. Further, in a world that is torn by dissensions and divisions, we always pray for unity. But strangely Jesus declares that he has come to bring division. This requires then to understand what exactly Jesus mean by this division caused and the peace disturbed.
3. Clearly, the division that is caused by Jesus is not the negative, unhealthy and harmful division that is caused by narrow-mindedness, prejudices, and self-vested interests, in the name of factors like race, nation, religion, language, culture, caste, rite, et cetera. The division is thus a manifestation of a shrunken and narrowed world.
4. Also, the peace that is disturbed by Jesus’ coming is only the false peace that is built on comfort, convenience, compromise, indifference, lack of involvement, concern, and non-committal attitude. It is thus a peace that shelters itself in self-demarcations and self-confinements. It does not allow anyone to enter into one’s self-made territories.
5. These divisions and disturbances are created because of the fire that Jesus has spread. What is this fire? It is the fire of passion, conviction, authenticity, vigour, and commitment. Therefore, one who is passionate for God, convinced, authentic, vigorous, and committed will surely experience division and disturbance.
6. The reason is quite clear. It is because of the “contrast”. Such persons on “fire”, that is, burning for God and His values are in contrast to the rest of the people of the world. Their passion is in contrast to the tepidity of many others. Their conviction is in contrast to the compromise of many others. Their authenticity is in contrast to the duplicity of many others. Their vigour is in contrast to the passivity of many others. And their commitment is in contrast to the mediocrity and non-committal attitude of many others.
7. Therefore such contrast automatically leads to resentment, opposition, division, aggression, and persecution. But then what should be our approach and response? The word of God always provides some basic answers. Be focused, be surrendered, and be enduring. Jeremiah in the first reading and Jesus himself in the second reading stand before us as the models for this focus, surrender, and endurance.
Imperative: The fire of many followers of Christ is either dwindling or almost extinguishing. We need to re-ignite it and make it again burning brightly and steadily
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: We need fire to burn the waste, mould the right, eliminate the old, and dispel the dark
1. “I came to kindle fire on the earth”; “I came to finish a baptism”; “I came to bring division, and not peace” – these are three significant declarations of Jesus in today’s gospel. Let us start with the last, “I came to bring division, and not peace”. These are very strange and shocking words from the mouth of Jesus because we believe him to be the king of peace and unity and we earnestly pray to him for the same, against all disturbance and violence, against all division and disunity. But today Jesus announces he causes division even within one’s own family.
2. First of all, what is this peace that Jesus does not bring and promote? It is the false peace of the world. The world understands peace as the absence of any trouble, disturbance, or struggle. Mostly peace is sought in convenience, compromise, self-interested adjustments, and indifference. Thus many think and seek to be peaceful by avoiding any risk and commitment. It is in this sense, that we hear often remarks like “I am not at peace!”, “Leave me in peace!” etc. This kind of peace is very shallow, non-committed, self-oriented, unstable, and not lasting; and it mostly is conditioned by extraneous factors and situations.
3. But Jesus does not promise or encourage or promote this kind of peace. His peace is a total contrast. It is a peace that is deep, interior, and lasting. The external forces and pressures cannot easily snatch it away. It is a peace that is radically rooted in God and committed to His will and kingdom. Therefore those who are committed to Jesus’ peace are naturally different and opposite from those who seek false peace.
4. There is certainly difference and division between the true and false, between commitment and convenience, responsibility and escapism, between conviction and compromise, between firmness and instability, between sensitivity and indifference, between fervor and lethargy, between passion and mediocrity, between fidelity and defection, between honesty and deception, between authenticity and duplicity, between surrender and self-indulgence, between love and hatred, between altruism and egoism, between patience and aggression, between sentiment and resentment, between forgiveness and retaliation, between generosity and greed, between benevolence and malice, between magnanimity and jealousy, between sharing and grabbing.
5. Clearly these sets are radically opposed and divided against each other. One cannot coexist with the other. Therefore one who makes the fundamental choice for the true and right will be divided against those who lend themselves to the wrong and false. The division caused because of Jesus, is not a negative division, caused by needless affinities like country, race, color, caste, religion, language, culture, position, etc. This unhealthy division is mostly because of ego and personality clashes and prejudices.
6. The division of which Jesus speaks, is for a just cause. It is for the sake of God and sound values and is the result of one’s commitment. This is the inevitable division, caused by Fire, the fire of love and passion for God, the fire of loyalty and commitment to God’s reign. All the positive principles and values enlisted above are in fact the flames and expressions of that fire. One who is on the side of God and good, cannot be in friendship and partnership with evil and false.
7. This is precisely the fire that fills, ignites, and drives Jesus in his mission. This is the same fire of love and passion for God and good that he wants to spread all around, and with which he wants to set ablaze every disciple. This is the “baptism” that he receives and initiates by his coming to the world and which he finishes by his life, passion, death, and resurrection.
8. Today it is our task. We who are baptized and consecrated, anointed by the Holy Spirit, are commissioned with the same mission. This is possible only when we are on fire with love and passion, loyalty and commitment. We cannot set the world on fire when our own fire is extinguished or dwindling or under ashes. Let us then cast off our mediocrity, our compromises, and worthless divisions. Let us be revived in our baptismal commitment. Let us rejuvenate our drooping spirits. Let us rekindle our diminishing fire.
Resolve: Be passionate for God with the inextinguishable fire of love for Him and in unquenchable flames of charity toward others.
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 22 OCTOBER)
Focus: It is only the energy and vitality of the Lord that can rejuvenate a world, steeped into tepidity and lethargy
The Lord declares, “I have come to bring fire on the earth; I have come to bring division and not peace”. A surface reading of these words can surprise and disturb one. We adore Jesus as the king of unity and peace. But now, Jesus affirms the opposite. What does it mean? A burning fire will surely bring about division and disturb the peace. It is the fire of love for Christ. It is to be rooted and founded in love. It is to understand and embrace the width, the length, the height, and the depth of the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge. It is the fire of love and compassion, light and guidance, justice and dignity, joy and contentment, empowerment and fulfillment. He offers the light of clarity and direction, certainty and solidity to a world that is shrouded in the dark traces of confusion, uncertainty, insecurity, and misguidance. He enlivens and revitalizes a world wounded by hatred and violence with the balm of love and forbearance. He elevates a world that has lost charm by misery and hopelessness, with the remedy of God’s own comfort and hope.
But this is a “contrast mission” and certainly triggers displeasure and opposition and division. But this division is not a negative division, caused by the clashes of ego and self-interests. It is a “holy division” for the sake of God and good. It is a division that is the result of refusal to compromise. It is a division in virtue of a fundamental option for the Lord. It is a division because of the uncompromising priority and loyalty to God, beyond and above worldly pressures and human relations.
Direction: What the world desperately needs is not heaps of ashes but sparks of fire. In a world that is becoming more and more rootless and uprooted, more and more shaken in foundations and unfounded, one needs to be rooted and founded in the love of God
(REFLECTION 4 FROM 2021, 21 OCTOBER)
Focus: Living for God will certainly make a contrast from those who live for the world and evil. This will lead to opposition and division
1. Love for Christ and following him calls for a radical and committed stand. It in fact involves a life of righteousness for sanctification. It will transform persons into slaves of God. But this slavery is something meritorious and dignified. It endows them with new freedom. Such conviction and commitment, such freedom and purity are in direct contrast to the impurity and iniquity of sin.
2. This contrast will automatically land the followers of Christ into situations of opposition, division, and loss of peace. It is not that they make themselves causes and agents of division and unrest. It is in fact caused by the resistance and refusal of those who oppose them. In a world of duplicity, when men of God live with integrity, for sure it would cause division and disturbance. When convictions are upheld in contrast to compromises, for sure there will be division and loss of peace.
3. When some are on fire with love for Christ, it will automatically disturb those who are tepid and whose fire is under ashes. A true follower of Christ cannot side with the false values of a mediocre man. A fundamental option for Christ will certainly put one at odds with the rest.
4. One need not feel bad or guilty about it. Such division and disturbance are not negative but are consequences of evil and inauthentic lives. The division and discord caused by fidelity to Christ are the natural outflows of the unswerving adherence to him. In the name of maintaining peaceful and undisturbed relationships, one should not give up values and fall to compromises.
Direction: Many play safe because they do not want to get into any trouble and be disturbed. They want to be in peace. But they do not realize that such peace is only false and not godly. A peace that comes because of compromise is cheap peace!
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