Luke 12:49-53 at first glance may appear to be inconsistent with the preceding statements that Jesus makes. A closer look at the text of the passage, however, shows that his talk about "fire", "baptism" and "division" are all consistent with his proclamation about the kingdom of God, its effects on the world and how it will affect human relationships. Read the relevant article here and use the following as a guide for reflection.
1. The Catechism (par. 696) explains "Fire" thus:
Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions. The prayer of the prophet Elijah, who "arose like fire" and whose "word burned like a torch," brought down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. This event was a "figure" of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches. John the Baptist, who goes "before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah," proclaims Christ as the one who "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Jesus will say of the Spirit: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!" In the form of tongues "as of fire," the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself The spiritual tradition has retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit's actions. "Do not quench the Spirit."
- Reflect
- The Holy Spirit is the fire that Jesus wishes would engulf the earth. He said this before the coming of the Holy Spirit. We now live at a time when the Holy Spirit is in the process or re-formatting the world, preparing it for the fullness of God's kingdom.
- Do you allow yourself to be engulfed by this Spirit so that you too may become a flame?
2. The eagerness of Jesus to engulf the world in fire and to undergo his "baptism" is due to his desire to accomplish the Father's will. The Catechism (par. 607) states:
In paragraph 1225, the Catechism links Jesus' "baptism" to our own baptismThe desire to embrace his Father's plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus' whole life, for his redemptive passion was the very reason for his Incarnation. And so he asked, "And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour." And again, "Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?" From the cross, just before "It is finished", he said, "I thirst."
In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
- Reflect
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The Christian life is the product of the fire that Jesus cast into the world by his death on the cross. Whether you like it or not, that fire is going to engulf the world in its flames.
- How do you see your Christian life?
- How eager are you to be a part of Jesus' project to be totally placed under the reign of God?
