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. 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. For the wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish
it were already blazing! There is a
baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is
accomplished! Do you think that I have
come to establish peace on the earth? No,
I tell you, but rather division. Luke 12:49-51
Piety
Father, help us to turn
away from our own lawlessness…not following your laws but instead following our
own. Jesus, open our ears to hear your message. Holy Spirit, guide us toward the life-giving
choices in our in our lives. Amen.
Study
Jesus once again has his
brimstone stoked to white hot temperatures in today’s Good News. What sets him off at the beginning of this
chapter is the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.
Jesus rejects their teachings and presents an alternative series of lessons. These examples will not bind His followers
with the law but instead free them from the law and bind them to God.
Fire and brimstone are
common symbols of the Hebrew Bible used to reveal God’s anger with the actions
of the people. Fire also lead to purification
and refinement. While we are most
familiar with the waters of the baptismal font, Jesus speaks today of the
Baptism of Fire that he will endure.
Baptism of Fire also
refers to the trials and testing of the disciples – a higher stage of
initiation than the cool waters of the font.
In many ways, Jesus is issuing a stern warning to those who will not
change. He is waning that our
lawlessness and slavery to sin will lead to our destruction. Turning toward Jesus will lead to
sanctification and eternal life.
Jesus is asking us to love
him more than our parents, more than our siblings, more than whatever we put
importance on in our life. If that love were
already accomplished, Jesus would be able to avoid what he knows lies ahead – the
cross. As disciples, we too must endure
these trials.
If we do not change, then
we will suffer the same fate. “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as
they did!” Luke 13:3
Action
What division is Jesus
asking us to endure? What will the fires
of baptism purify in us?
On a literal basis, Jesus
describes practices which He says will bring divisions in families. Change is difficult and some will cling to the
old ways while others take on new ways. However,
it also means it will bring divisions into our hearts. We will be pulled between two poles: Sin and God.
Jesus is asking us to divide our lives from that which attracts us now
and instead follow the path that will draw us to Him.
What does it matter? If we choose wisely rejecting ego, power and
wealth, we will open ourselves to choices which can lead to eternal life
instead of the fires that will consume those who failed to love God and to serve
others.
Jesus also tells us it
will not be easy – using an unappealing metaphor of being the “slaves of God.” He is not promising his disciples (or us) that
we will live a life of royalty in a heavenly rose garden. Living as His followers, we will have to
share in not only His baptism in the cool, soothing waters of the Jordan, but also
in his baptism of fiery pain on the cross.
Rather than awaiting Advent
or Lent, what can you give up in life to become a closer follower of
Jesus? Can you commit to a new volunteer
project? Can you support a new charity? Can you aid a homeless person you might see
on the streets this week instead of waiting for the “social agencies” to serve
him or her? Can you share your advice or
talents with someone who needs your help?
No comments:
Post a Comment