24 October 2019 - fire on the earth

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.

Why division? Because the LORD offers us freedom. But all of us cling to slavery in one way or another. Some cling to it so strongly as to refuse the offer of freedom entirely. But even we ourselves are divided within, the old man from the new, the renewed heart from the heart of stone, by the word of God which "is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (see Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus does not want to leave any part of any heart in the possession of the enemy. He is stronger than the enemy. He has already overcome him. But he will not force us to share in that victory. He invites rather than insisting. The division is precisely here. If he insisted there would be no division. If he did nothing there would be no division. But because he allows us to choose whether or not to love him division is a consequence. It is necessary, too, that it be as clear a distinction as it can be so that we can realize how bad and hopeless is life without Jesus.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness.
But what profit did you get then
from the things of which you are now ashamed?
For the end of those things is death.

When we see how places where Jesus does not reign are hopeless we become more motivated to turn more completely toward him. This is why we need to let the word of God fully reveal where we are committed to Jesus and where in us sin still reigns.

But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God,
the benefit that you have leads to sanctification,
and its end is eternal life.

Perhaps it is not always clear to us exactly who or were the invitation of Jesus is most perfectly manifest. That is why Paul tells us "for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized" (see First Corinthians 11:19). Those who are genuine will ultimately be known by there fruit.

He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.

The recognition of truth somethings even requires the teaching authority of the Church. But even this only happens if we are willing to be unambiguous about who we are and where we stand.

I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!

Jesus does not want anything less than the fire of the Holy Spirit for us. He insists on nothing less than the all consuming fire of God's holiness that sanctifies the hearts of the saints. Let us receive it.