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 …”
At first glance, these words of Christ can seem so disconcerting. We have an image of Christ as the sweet Good Shepherd who carries the tired, wandering sheep in his arms. But we forget that the Good Shepherd oftentimes have battles to face unbeknownst to the sheep—wild predators and prey that lay hiding and lurking ready to plunder! We forget that this Shepherd is also a warrior, who is not afraid to be baptized by the crucible of crucifixion for the sake of his sheep. This Shepherd is not afraid to suffer for love of his flock.
Jesus comes to set the world on fire. What is this fire?
Malachi 3:2-3
But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like fullers’ lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the Levites, refining them like gold or silver, that they may bring offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
Zechariah 13:9
I will bring the one third through the fire; I will refine them as one refines silver, and I will test them as one tests gold. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them; I will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The LORD is my God.”
Hebrews 12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.
Scripture shows that God is a fire that sanctifies, that burns up impurities so that we might become pure souls suitable for worship, for union with Him—with The Consuming Fire!
May we continue to allow God to burn whatever impurities we find in ourselves for His glory. May division in our members be healed by his consuming fire, that we might in turn become instruments of grace for others, for the salvation of the world, and for the good of our souls.
Blessed be God forever!
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