Readings: Ephesians 3:13-21; Psalm 33; Luke 12:49-53
I am usually uncomfortable when I read these words in today’s Gospel from Luke, “I came to bring fire to the earth.” I prefer those passages that tell us to love one another as Jesus has loved us, as God has loved us. OK but why? Because I think to myself, “I can do that : it’s not that difficult.” And, in fact, I do work at it every day. But our faith asks more. God sent his Son to be human and Jesus certainly experienced anguish and division. His apostles failed him – or better, betrayed him. He was crucified. What do I learn from this? Peace on earth is difficult to achieve. We are divided. To live out God’s work and to commit to a faith that does justice will require facing criticism, adversity, anguish, and even division.
Yes, the message is difficult and it unsettles me. To do the right thing may alienate me from those I care about. But I need to remember that I find God in all things, that standing up for what I believe does not mean demeaning others. Even in the face of division, we have to work for understanding, the kind of understanding that God has for us, through patient dialogue, through mercy.
Jesus did not shy away from the truth or sugar-coat it. Healing divisions is not easy. We have to be ready for division and we have to stand with and for those whose voices aren’t heard. We have to remember that God is with us, maybe especially in that person whose views I have a hard time tolerating.
The first reading from Ephesians offers a good prayer for me today. Please re-read it slowly, with careful thought:
“that God may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being … that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love … that you may know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”