Gospel: Luke
12:49-53
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! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the
earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five
will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be
divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her
daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her
daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
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Reflection:
What does
it mean to be on fire for Jesus? It simply means that we have allowed the Holy
Spirit to work in our lives by sharing and living the teaching of Jesus. During
Pentecost the Blessed Mother, some women and many of the apostles were in the upper
room (Acts 1:12-14). While there the Holy Spirit appearing in tongues of fire
descended upon each of them (Acts 2:1-3). And from thereon they have allowed
themselves to be set on fire by the teachings of Jesus.
During
our Baptism we too have received the same fire of the Holy Spirit and the same
Holy Spirit was further strengthened within us during our Confirmation. After
we have received the Holy Spirit through these two Sacraments, could we now say
that we are on fire for Jesus?
Or we
have never been on fire even if we have received already the presence of the
Holy Spirit. We remain to be timid Roman Catholics for we never cared to share
our faith in Jesus. We remain to be Roman Catholics in name only with our faith
always hidden within us.
Why not
try to reverse this culture of complacency by allowing the fire of the Holy
Spirit to move us to share the gospel of Jesus? For example, why not try to
schedule a weekly or even monthly reading and reflection of the words of Jesus
in the bible amongst your family members or friends?
This may
divide families and friends we may be even be labeled us neurotics for doing
this but for as long as we do this with humility. We have nothing to worry
about because we are simply living our faith. The division that we create for
sharing the gospel will eventually heal and turn into cohesion and this is the
miracle of Jesus.
Are you
on fire for Jesus? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
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