I HAVE COME TO SET THE EARTH ON FIRE

Eph 3,14-21; Ps 32; Lk 12,49-53
25 OCTOBER

The Letter to the Hebrews reveals the great difference that reigns between the Old and the New Covenant. The Ancient was made of great visible signs. The New is grace that works from within the heart. It reveals its power in the fruits it produces. Is there a greater sign than the Eucharist? It is the mystery of faith. Nothing is seen. Everything is believed.

You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them, for they could not bear to hear the command: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel (Heb 12,18-24).

Saint Paul asks the disciples of Jesus to annihilate themselves in the humility and meekness of Christ Jesus. Their greatness is in the lowering, not in exaltation or elevation. Inner wealth must be manifested by the fruits that are produced.

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil 2,1-11).

It is not the visible fire that Jesus came to pour into the earth. His fire is invisible.

When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village (Lk 9,51-56).

Here is the fire that Jesus came to bring to earth: the Holy Spirit. It is the invisible fire whose visibility is given by the heart of stone transformed by him into a heart of flesh.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim (At 2,1-4).

The division that Jesus will bring to the earth is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes and separates the heart of stone from the heart of flesh, the heart of faith from the heart of non faith.

“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.”

Division is from the different paths of hearts. The way of Christ is different than the way of the world.

Wise Virgin, Angels and Saints ensure that the Christian is always on the path of Christ Jesus.