Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! (Luke 12: 49-50). Earlier in Luke’s gospel, John the Baptist said, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming…he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (3:16). The Greek word for baptize is immerse. Indeed, Jesus came to immerse us into the fire of the Holy Spirit. When we think of the image of a fire it can be tempting to focus on its destructive power. Fire can consume all that is touches, but not without giving back warmth and light. Jesus’s passion and death brought with it a fire that would cleanse us of our sins and give victory over death.
So as winter approaches, we know the days will get shorter, the weather will grow colder, and many plants will die. However, let us be reminded that in even in death there is also new life. Jesus's broken body was resurrected from death so that all may experience the joy of eternal life. The fire of God’s love was cast upon the disciples at Pentecost, and they went out to the earth as other Christs.
Our baptism requires us to die also. In the death of our sin and selfishness, we can live more fully for God and for others. Today in our prayer, let us ask for the grace to have more clarity about what God is calling us to do. May we experience the fire of God’s love in our hearts so that we too can share the good news.
-Jessica Gabrielli