21 OCTOBER 2021 LUKE 12: 49-53
Thursday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
SPIRITUAL FIRE
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!“(Luke. 12:49).
Today’s gospel Jesus’ affirmations that are hard to be understood which has to be grasped symbolically, not literally. If taken literally readers would be misguided! How can Jesus who taught about love, mercy, forgiveness and non-violence use such words? So many preachers with fanatic nature of other faith have used it as a reference to present Jesus as a destructor! In such cases we turn to Biblical scholars.
In the OT the metaphor of fire is mostly used as a destructive and consuming force. For example, in the book of Genesis ‘fire and brimstone from heaven consumes the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah’ (Gen. 19:24-25). In Exodus fire is one of the ten plagues send by God to consume those Israelites turn against God (Ex. 9:3). In the Book of 2 Kings, Prophet Elijah calls down fire from heaven to burn the soldiers of wicked king Ahaziah (2Kg. 1:9-17).
Whereas in NT metaphor of fire is mostly being used as a purifying and refinery force. For example, in the book of Revelation, ‘the seven lamps with burning flames’ (Rev. 4:5) can refer to 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist speaks about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, ‘I baptize you with water, but the one who comes after me will baptize you with Holy Spirit and Fire’ (Lk 4:6). In Acts we find the Holy Spirit coming upon the disciples as tongues as of fire (Acts 2:3).
Just like fire is used to refine and purify impurities in metals, the Holy Spirit, the Spiritual Fire helps us to purify the spiritual impurities caused by sins. Therefore, the fire mentioned by Jesus in the gospel today is the fire of the Holy Spirit! Amen.