Brian’s Reflection: The Weekend, Sat, August 14, 2010

Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided ….. He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

The “canonical” Gospel called Luke, chapter 12 [for the Liturgy, Aug 15, Proper 15C_RCL]


As always, the Christ speaks about our transformation into the fullness of our Humanity. The text was later interpreted as if Jesus was predicting something in Time, but originally He was speaking of inner consciousness.

“Fire” is the symbolic instrument of transformation. Here, Jesus is “anxious” because He is the manifestation of the eternal godman, who comes announcing the “time” for transformation – but it isn’t happening! People aren’t paying attention, except on a superficial level. Until we human beings understand our full true nature as part of “God”, there is no “Peace”. His message can only bring “division” both within the individual human soul and within the human community. Some people will be open and hearing, some not. This only creates division between people.

Jesus challenges them/us: “you” understand the message of earthly signs – weather, etc. But we ignore the signs of human life that tell us we are living superficially, not out of the fullness of our Humanity.

There are plenty of those signs today around us in our World – and there always are! . It is time to listen, to interpret the meaning of the divisions and hatred and prejudice and fear and anger and warlikeness. They are signs that we are on a path of destruction.

It’s time to “wake up”. If we continue to sleep, Love and Life and Joy and Community will elude usm and our lives will continue to wither and pale.

Brian+