“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were blazing!” These are the frightening words Jesus spoke to His disciples in today’s Gospel from Luke. This isn’t our gentle loving Jesus! He then tells them, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on earth? No, I tell you rather division.” Jesus says families will be divided among themselves. So what are we to make of this? In today’s reading, Jesus is referring to a worldly peace that contrasts with God’s peace. It is the peace that many seek through power, material gain, domination of others and control. This peace requires no faith in God or change in our hearts. Jesus came to bring the opposite kind of peace… peace with God. So why does Jesus tell his disciples He came to set the earth on fire? Keep in mind that fire in Holy Scripture often symbolizes the purifying presence of God. Fire also represents the Holy Spirit. Luke uses this image again in the Book of Acts when the Spirit comes upon the disciples like “tongues of fire.” (Acts 2:3) Jesus longed for the Holy Spirit to fill the hearts of all His disciples. He sought the day when the fire of the Holy Spirit blazed forth, bringing light to every dark corner of the world. It would be the fire that purifies and destroys anything blocking the path to God’s Kingdom. Jesus knew this was not an easy task. It can often cause serious divisions even in the best of households. Jesus knew that following Him can disrupt even one’s most cherished relationships. Still today, we know the difficulty of searching for and finding God’s peace. Jesus wants us to be His bold followers, keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit alive in our hearts and families. Putting God first often results in interpersonal conflicts. You won’t be popular with the youth soccer coach or the sulky, bored teenager when you insist on weekly Mass attendance. Yet, the Spirit just might use that opportunity to ignite a renewal of their faith. Jesus asks us to trust that His Spirit will work within us. Our reward will then be lasting peace that only He can give us now and in eternal life. Reflection by parishioner, Dale Gerber