In today's gospel passage, Jesus says something very strange to his disciples: I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! (Lk 12:49) Sometimes, Jesus used striking images in order to wake up his listeners, to help them to see beyond the everyday struggles so that they could begin to believe that something new was possible.
When Jesus says that he wants to set the world on fire, I don't think he actually wants to burn everything away, but he does want to burn away our human tendencies toward competitiveness, jealousy, envy ... and to replace them with love, hope and joy. He also wants to help us to understand that his words have the power to do something new and fresh in our lives and in the lives of those we meet.
Pray today for the grace to allow Jesus to melt away attitudes and behaviours that might be destructive, and be on the lookout today for the ways he is inviting us to help build his kingdom of peace.
Have a great weekend.
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