I have come to set the earth on fire

Jer 38,4-6.8-10; Ps 39; Heb 12,1-4; Lk 12,49-53
18 AUGUST

The fire that Jesus came to bring to the earth certainly is not that which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, nor the other of Elijah who burned down the altar and consummated the sacrifice or still the other that descended on fifty men and devoured them. Instead it is much more similar to the fire that envelops the bush in the desert. That fire burns but does not consume. It is the fire of his Father which is the most pure fire of love that burns from eternity in his heart, without ever consuming it, rather reviving it with more intensity.

The sun was just rising over the earth as Lot arrived in Zoar; at the same time the Lord rained down sulphurous fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah (from the Lord out of heaven). He overthrew those cities and the whole Plain, together with the inhabitants of the cities and the produce of the soil (Gn 19,23-25). Answer me, Lord! Answer me, that this people may know that you, Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses.” The Lord’s fire came down and consumed the holocaust, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench. Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” (1Kings 18,37-39).

Then the king sent a captain with his company of fifty men after Elijah. The prophet was seated on a hilltop when he found him. “Man of God,” he ordered, “the king commands you to come down.” “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered the captain, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. Ahaziah sent another captain with his company of fifty men after Elijah. “Man of God,” he called out to Elijah, “the king commands you to come down immediately.” “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered him, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And divine fire came down from heaven, consuming him and his fifty men. Again, for the third time, Ahaziah sent a captain with his company of fifty men. When the third captain arrived, he fell to his knees before Elijah, pleading with him. “Man of God,” he implored him, “let my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants, count for something in your sight! Already fire has come down from heaven, consuming two captains with their companies of fifty men. But now, let my life mean something to you!” (2Kings 1,9-14).

Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned” (Es 3,1-3). Take heed, therefore, lest, forgetting the covenant which the Lord, your God, has made with you, you fashion for yourselves against his command an idol in any form whatsoever. For the Lord, your God, is a consuming fire, a jealous God (Dt 4,23-24).

The fire that Jesus came to bring to earth is the fire of his Holy Spirit. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. It is the fire that must set hearts on the fire of exclusive love for their God and Lord. God is a devouring fire. He fires the hearts of love for his person. As God is jealous of man, so man will be jealous of his God.

“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.”

Fire is poured by Christ Jesus in the symbolism of water from his crucified body, pierced by the spear. On the day of Pentecost the Spirit is manifested as fire and wind.

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 Christian is like the burning bush. He is burned but not consumed by the Holy Spirit.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints ensure that the fire of Jesus burns and enlightens for our life.