Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 12:49-53)
Jesus sounds like a scorched earth commander in today’s
gospel. He speaks of setting the world
ablaze as if he were General Sherman on his march to the sea. But Jesus does not wish to harm anything,
much less any human person. His objective
is burning away the wickedness that often encumbers human desire. When this is done, humans may love as God
loves.
The human desire for what is lasting and all-satisfying is
very often amalgamated with corrupt inclinations. Instead of seeking the eternal good, people
crave power, pleasure, and prestige to quench their thirst for God. But God is not found in corruption. He is there in the offering of self in love for
others. Jesus will show this self-sacrificing
love in his “baptism” on the cross.
Burning away the dross of our desires may cause discomfort
and even pain. It is hard to give up
illicit relations or to stop using stereotypes to judge others. But the result is worth any difficulty we
experience. We become freer people with
a more intimate relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.
