The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to contemplate our position amid the cloud of witnesses to the love and life in our relationship with Jesus that has the intensity and power of fire to transform.
The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes his imprisonment in the Muddy Cistern.
* [38:1] Jeremiah enjoyed sufficient liberty in the court of the guard (37:21) to speak to the people; cf. 32:6–9. Gedaliah, son of Pashhur: the latter is possibly the Pashhur of 20:1. Pashhur, son of Malchiah: mentioned in 21:1. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 38, n.d.)
Psalm 40 is a thanksgiving for deliverance and a prayer for help.
* [Psalm 40] A thanksgiving (Ps 40:2–13) has been combined with a lament (Ps 40:14–17) that appears also in Ps 70. The psalmist describes the rescue in spatial terms—being raised up from the swampy underworld to firm earth where one can praise God (Ps 40:2–4). All who trust God will experience like protection (Ps 40:5–6)! The Psalm stipulates the precise mode of thanksgiving: not animal sacrifice but open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced (Ps 40:7–11). A prayer for protection concludes (Ps 40:12–17). (Psalms, PSALM 40, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews describes the example of Jesus in a cloud of witnesses.
* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus uses fire to underline the Cause of Division.
* [12:49–53] Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom is a refining and purifying fire. His message that meets with acceptance or rejection will be a source of conflict and dissension even within families. (Luke, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. comments that Christian Spirituality may be defined as living, with the tensions caused by our responding to the invitations of Jesus in the Gospels and in our lives. Tensions are a part of every relationship and what we hear in today’s Gospel Reading is full of them. The big question is whether there can be peace while experiencing tensions.
Our spirituality is centered on our making decisions which allow us to listen to His invitation and as well to the human invitations which cause the Holy Tension we call Faith. As sacred as family was in the times of Jesus, He speaks right to how Faith calls for decisions and decisions can cause tensions. I find the “peace” Jesus came to offer flows from our not allowing our belief in Jesus to separate us from, but unite us to His family members our sisters and brothers. This will sometimes cause tensions, but tensions prove the quality of His relationship with us and us with Him and within ourselves. (Gillick, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The fire of the Gospel and being baptized in the Holy Spirit,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"We affirm that the fire that Christ sent out is for humanity's salvation and profit. May God grant that all our hearts be full of this. The fire is the saving message of the Gospel and the power of its commandments. We were cold and dead because of sin and in ignorance of him who by nature is truly God. The gospel ignites all of us on earth to a life of piety and makes us fervent in spirit, according to the expression of blessed Paul (Romans 12:11). Besides this, we are also made partakers of the Holy Spirit, who is like fire within us. We have been baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit. We have learned the way from what Christ says to us. Listen to his words: 'Truly I say to you, that except a man be born of water and spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:5). It is the divinely inspired Scripture's custom to give the name of fire sometimes to the divine and sacred words and to the efficacy and power which is by the Holy Spirit by which we are made fervent in spirit." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 94) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 12:49-53 comments that Jesus longed with all his heart for the Holy Spirit to fill his disciples—and the whole earth! He couldn’t wait to see the fire of the Spirit blazing forth and bringing light to every dark corner of the world. This was why he came; it was the goal of his entire mission. It’s why he would endure the “baptism” of his passion and death (Luke 12:50).
Jesus’ heart burns with love for us, and he wants his Spirit to fill us with that love. Like fire, the Spirit changes everything he touches. His fire will warm our hearts so they burn with love for him and the people around us. His fire will purify our hearts so we will want to live holy lives that please the Lord. And his fire will enflame our hearts with a passion to tell everyone about the love of Jesus.
Jesus wants that transforming power to blaze in each of us until it fills the whole earth. So together let’s pray,
“Come, Holy Spirit! Set my heart on fire.” (Meditation on Luke 12:49-53, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the response of the people to Jeremiah’s call for surrender to the Babylonians and his rescue from death by a Cushite. The cloud of witnesses, living and dead, with whom we relate are available for support in our lives. Friar Jude reminds followers of the Prince of Peace that rejection by people close to us may be our experience.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that God uses love and suffering, and especially suffering, as universal paths to reach and change us.
Two universal paths of transformation have been available to every human being God has created: great love and great suffering. These are offered to all; they level the playing fields of all the world religions. Only love and suffering are strong enough to break down our usual ego defenses, crush our dualistic thinking, and open us to Mystery. In my experience, they like nothing else exert the mysterious chemistry that can transmute us from a fear-based life into a love-based life. None of us are exactly sure why. We do know that words, even good words or fine theology, cannot achieve that on their own. No surprise that the Christian icon of redemption is a man offering love from a crucified position! (Rohr, n.d.)
We express gratitude for the deep love and even the deep suffering that has opened our lives to the surrender prompted by the Spirit that brings fullness to life.
References
Gillick, L. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/081422.html
Hebrews, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 38. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/38?4
Luke, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?49
Meditation on Luke 12:49-53. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/08/14/468090/
Psalms, PSALM 40. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/40?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-and-suffering-2022-08-14/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Came to Cast Fire upon the Earth. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=aug14
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