[__01__] Fire
and fires require safety. And, in this Gospel reading, our Savior speaks of
setting a fire.
At the same time, we also believe that he does does
not simply create or set the flames and the fire and walk away.
Jesus is also present in our lives, in a
relationship with you and me, to help us to tend and care for the fire.
Jesus wishes to teach us by the light and heat of
the Gospel, at the fireplace, at the fireside.
[__02__] Yes, it is true that fires have the power to
tear down, to destroy, in the natural and physical world.
We
should be careful around fire and anything flammable, incendiary, inflammatory.[1]
Jesus
gives us his word, his commandments also as a source of fuel and fire.
Jesus
gives us the truth about our own dignity, and the dignity of others. He does this to help us to flourish, to grow,
to prosper. However, he also gives us
the truth of the Gospel in order to burn away anything dishonest, anything
untrue.
Isn’t
it true that we BURN with passion to know the truth of certain mysteries, we
may BURN up inside if are waiting impatiently for information or for the truth.
Jesus
gives us the Gospel so that we can be illuminated only by truth – and so that
we can be free of anything that may be dishonest or untrue.
This
fire requires caution.
[* * * PAUSE * * *]
[__03__] For example, we might – at times – have
dishonest or incomplete views of ourselves. We may evaluate ourselves
negatively or diminish ourselves, in ways that are not entirely true.
Yet, does not Jesus remind us that
every hair on your head is counted …and
that the beauty we possess in ourselves is greater than any flower or living
creature. He reminds that the flowers – beautiful as they are – did not give
themselves their beauty by toiling or spinning or working for it.
In a similar way, God provides for us
– and will provide for us – in ways that
we do not ask for or imagine. (cf., “do not
worry about your life…. ” Luke 12:22-34)
[__04__] Jesus
gives the Gospel, the Beatitudes, so that we can discover his light in the
darkness.
The fire of the Gospel, is our calling
to be generous, and to burn away what we may be selfish or greedy.
The fire of the Gospel is our calling
to be disciplined, to seek wisdom, and to burn away anything – or any attitude
– that may keep us from true knowledge.
For example – to young people and students – do you not recognize that
the desire to learn – the desire for truth – is also a fire that needs to be
nourished, cared for, tended.
The fire of the Gospel is our calling
to be compassionate, so that we might forgive those who trespass against us, so
that we might be the light and fire of the world.
[__05__] This Sunday at Mass, we also take a special
collection for a visiting missionary for the Society of the Propagation of the
Faith.
[1]
LATER – connect this to FIRE and the idea that sometimes we only need a spark
rather than an explosion to communicate the truth, to follow God’s ways…
especially between parent and child…. Especially in our closest, most intimate
relationships, less is more….
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