Reflection for Thursday October 23, Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time; Luke 12:49-53

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