Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Hb
12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53
In today’s Gospel Jesus said to
his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth.” It is a very strong
statement for the listeners of Jesus. The contemporaries of Jesus expected that
the Messiah would bring peace to the troubled nation, that the Messiah would
establish political stability in the
nation, and that the Messiah would wipe away all the miseries. Hence the words of Jesus would have definitely shocked them. After two thousand years when we go through the life of Jesus and of His Church, we find that it is literally true.
nation, and that the Messiah would wipe away all the miseries. Hence the words of Jesus would have definitely shocked them. After two thousand years when we go through the life of Jesus and of His Church, we find that it is literally true.
John appeared in the desert
announcing the coming of Jesus and preparing the way for Him. The message of
John caused distress for many. Herodias was troubled, and Herod lost his peace.
He tried to suppress it by executing John. The birth of Jesus caused trouble
and distress to the King. He ordered many innocent children to be executed.
When Jesus began his ministry many more lost peace, and were troubled. The
religious authorities were troubled and the people were shocked.
Every righteous man was resisted
by the forces of evil. Because their mission was not to compromise but to
challenge and change their words came like a double edge sword to the forces of
evil.
Today’s first reading is a great
example for this. During today’s first reading we heard the how Jeremiah was
mistreated by the king and his
officials. These persons of authority did not appreciate hearing the Word of
God that was being prophesied through the mouth of Jeremiah. It cannot be
denied that Jeremiah was delivering bad news to them. Like Jeremiah, all the
prophets came with the message of God, and that message set fire in the
society. All the societies were divided. One group followed the teaching of the Prophets, and the other group
opposed it.
Wise men of the ancient past
upheld the message of truth, but the authorities tried to silence them by
force. Socrates came out as the champion of truth and independent thinking, but
the evil forces rose against him. Copernicus and Galileo challenged the age old
unscientific belief about the Solar System, but they were persecuted. Abraham
Lincoln denounced the inhuman practice of slavery, and Martin Luther King
fought against apartheid. Like them millions did fight against meaningless
customs and out dated customs. Hence their existence proved a great pain to
some. And their words spread fire in the society.
This is the exact mission of the
Church and of every Christian. We are called not for a life of compromise but
for a life of challenge and change we have a rich tradition in this regard. Our
martyrs and saints upheld this mission and stood for truth and justice. Today,
following this tradition we have to stand for justice, keeping in mind that
resistance and challenge will be part of our life.
Today more than ever, we need
charismatic and fearless Christians to take up this challenge; to do the little
that we can in our homes, in our work place, and in our society. The process of
sanctifying the world through the institution of the invisible Kingdom of God
on earth falls on each one of us. So there arises the Christian resistance to
evil. In today’s second reading St. Paul
reminds us of the same message that we must resist sin.
Let us ask God to give us
strength and courage to resist our inner conflict and stand by justice
regardless of its consequences.
Satish