I came to bring fire and division! Dramatic and impactful gospel that challenges and inspires. These poignant texts emerge from the fiery crucible of the first violent persecution against Christians, when Jesus’ disciples, cut off from the Jewish establishment, stood firm in the face of imprisonment and death.
The Jewish leadership struck a merciless blow to the early Christian communities in Palestine, where they were all Jews, where families began to split around the fire and the sword, and the scandal of the cross of Christ.
Fire is a biblical symbol; in Exodus, for instance, there is the flame at Sinai that burns without consuming, the disciples’ burning hearts at Emmaus, Jeremiah’s inner fire, the tongues of fire at Pentecost, and ultimately, a fiery spark of God’s love. Christians were spiritually on fire, marked by their honesty and goodness, as they witnessed the living Christ.
Christians were both reviled and deeply admired for their goodness and love. The deliberate choice to forgive rather than seek revenge, to shun money worship, and to choose service over domination exemplifies true strength. By opening their arms and homes to others, they illuminated a path that challenged the status quo, inspiring us all to embrace love and compassion.
Like Jesus, we are called to use our intelligence not to worship the fading embers of conformity, but to cherish the vibrant, passionate fire of Eucharistic and prayerful devotion—one that brings warmth and light, illuminating and nurturing the world entrusted to our care.
Christ, be our light!