Today’s Gospel might be one of the
most unsettling things we’ve heard Jesus say.
"Do you think I have come to
bring peace to the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather
division!"
This doesn’t sound like the Jesus
we’ve grown comfortable with—the Jesus who blesses peacemakers, who calms
storms, who forgives sinners.
But here, Jesus speaks with holy
urgency, with the fire of a prophet and the heart of a Savior consumed by love.
Let’s take a moment to look more
deeply.
"I have come to
bring fire to the earth…"
What is this fire?
It’s not the fire of destruction—it is
the fire of conversion, purification, and love.
The fire of the Holy Spirit,
who descended at Pentecost in tongues of flame.
The fire of hearts burning on the road
to Emmaus when Jesus opened the Scriptures.
The fire that Christ longs to see
blazing in the hearts of His followers.
When Jesus says He wishes this fire
were already kindled, He’s expressing a divine longing—for the world to be
ablaze with truth, with holiness, with passionate love for God and neighbor.
But fire doesn’t just warm. It also refines.
And that’s where the challenge begins.
"Do you think I
have come to bring peace? No, but rather division."
This isn’t the division of anger or
hatred.
It’s the division that happens when
truth meets resistance.
When light shines into darkness.
When God’s kingdom confronts the
kingdoms of this world.
When you choose to live fully for
Christ, you may feel this division.
Maybe you already have.
- A family member who mocks your faith…
- A friend who pulls away because you won’t condone what you know is
wrong…
- A culture that calls you “intolerant” for standing up for marriage,
for life, for truth…and against homosexuality, abortion, and gender lies.
This Gospel reminds us: you are not
alone.
Jesus Himself experienced this.
His message divided households,
cities, nations.
But it was never because He lacked
love—it was precisely because He loved us enough to tell the truth, even
when it cost Him everything.
And what about The
Fire and the Sword
Some hear these words and get nervous.
“Division? Fire?
This isn’t the gentle Gospel I
wanted!”
But the Gospel isn’t always
gentle—because sin is not gentle.
Lies are not gentle. And lukewarm
hearts don’t get into heaven.
St. Catherine of Siena once said:
“Be who God meant you to be and you
will set the world on fire.”
But brothers and sisters, to set the
world on fire, we must first let ourselves be consumed.
Are we willing to be set ablaze with
His love?
Are we willing to let Him burn away
the pride, the compromises, the fear that keep us from being true disciples?
And then there is A
Baptism of Suffering
Jesus speaks of a baptism He must
endure—the baptism of the Cross.
He’s not just talking about water or
ritual.
He’s talking about the full immersion
into suffering, rejection, and death… for our sake.
If we are serious about following Him,
we too must pass through fire.
Through trials.
Through difficult choices.
The world tells us to take the easy
road.
Jesus tells us to take up our cross.
Not because He wants us to suffer, but
because He knows that only through the cross can we reach the resurrection.
What Does This Mean
For Us Today?
So what is Jesus asking of us here and
now?
1.
Kindle the Fire:
Let your faith be visible.
Let the fire of the Holy Spirit
animate your daily life.
Pray fervently. Speak truth
courageously. Love sacrificially
2.
Be Willing to Stand Alone:
If standing with Christ puts you at
odds with the world—even with loved ones—don’t be afraid.
Jesus warned us it would happen.
But He also promised: “I am with
you always.”
3.
Speak the Truth in Love:
We are not called to stir division for
its own sake.
We speak truth not to win arguments
but to win souls.
Always with humility, always with
love—but never without truth.
4.
Pray for Unity in Christ:
Real peace comes only through truth.
We must pray for our families, our
parishes, our nation—to be united not by comfort or compromise, but by a shared
commitment to Christ.
In Conclusion
Yes, Jesus brings peace—but not the
kind the world gives.
He brings a peace that only comes
after the battle, after the fire, after the Cross.
So let’s not be afraid of the fire.
Let’s not fear the divisions that come
when we put Christ first.
Instead, let us live with hearts
ablaze, willing to stand firm, willing to love boldly, willing to follow
wherever Jesus leads.
And in the end, we will hear those
blessed words:
"Well done, My good and faithful
servant… enter into the joy of your Lord."
Amen.
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