Today’s reading from Luke is taken from the 12th chapter that begins by saying there were thousands gathered to listen to his preaching. So many people that they were stepping on each other. What a disturbing image Jesus uses to describe what he is about: a blazing fire. He seems to over emphasize the image by wishing that the fire was already blazing.
Fire destroys everything and leaves only ashes. Nothing of the original is left. The ashes don’t even look like what was burned. I worked 14 years as a fire chaplain and often saw the contents of a home reduced to ashes and once a whole neighborhood reduced to ashes. Nothing was even recognizable – only the metal stoves and metal storage closets.
In that 12th chapter of Luke, Jesus speaks about completely renouncing ourselves and our dependency on material things. He is speaking of the Cross and serving others. Jesus is speaking of the action of the Holy Spirit that comes to recreate us in the image of the Cross through a deep conversion.
So often when we think about our conversion, we think about retouching this or that – like fixing up facial make-up. I think I will give up chocolates for Lent this year. I think I will give a donation to a program for children in December. These are just small accommodations, while our basic orientation toward ourselves continues to be the center of our lives. When we are truly open to the fire of the Holy Spirit, nothing is left of ourselves – just the image of Jesus on the Cross. In the conversion process, even the most primordial human relationships (family and friends) become less important than our relationship with God. That is the fire of the Holy Spirit that Jesus wants to light in each of us.
I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
Image: https://pastorsblog.com.au/2013/08/20/jesus-is-not-your-friend-luke-1239-53/