fire on earth
august 17, 2025 | 20th Sunday in ordinary time, Year C
Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10; Ps 40: Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53
Preaching the truth and living by the Gospel has serious consequences: persecutions, imprisonment and death. Jeremiah in the first reading is imprisoned for speaking against the corrupt leaders of Judah during the siege of Jerusalem. The message of truth will cause the persecution and the death of Jesus as well as all those who will accept to follow by bringing this fire to the world. It is a race that Christians would have to run with faith and perseverance by fixing their eyes on Jesus, who came to set fire on earth.
Fire in the Bible
The Bible has always looked at fire in a positive and a negative way. Various examples in the Old and New Testaments highlight that there is a good fire. We can recall the events of the burning bush with Moses (Exodus 3), the pillar that led God’s people safely through the wilderness at night (Exodus 13), the chariot of fire that led Elijah to heaven (2 Kings 11:2), the Pentecost, where the Holy spirit came like tongues of fire over the Apostles and the new Church
(Acts 2). However, we also hear John the Baptist and Jesus himself warning people who refuse repentance to be thrown to eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Jesus’ mission to bring fire
His whole mission was to bring the fire that changes things, that is our way of living. He does this by inviting his apostles Peter, James, John and others to completely change their lives by following him. "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19). He invites us to repent (Mark 1:15). As disciples of Jesus, set on fire by his love, we are to change and change the world by preaching his kingdom. This is not an easy task. Therefore, he says in today’s gospel: “There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished”. Jesus is aware that, to bring the change will bring resistance, divisions and persecutions even within the same household.
No false peace stands for the Gospel message
“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Even though he is the Prince of Peace, Jesus does not align with false peace that accepts compromission of the truth, corruption, sin, that false truth that makes us all agree out of fear or because we do not want to lose our privileges. Jesus didn't come to bring that shallow peace, that peace bringing comfort in injustice and falsehood. No. He brings peace that gives joy in the truth even if this brings divisions, troubles and persecutions. We need to be set up by this fire.
Pope Benedict XVI, while speaking about this "fire", says: "Whoever comes close to Christ comes close to the fire." This means that, “drawing near to Christ involves a purifying process, where God's love and truth can be both comforting and challenging, potentially leading to a transformation that may feel like being burned by fire.” May we all be inflamed by this fire!
Happy 20th Sunday!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Living the Gospel this week. Posture, Song
We usually begin the Mass by inviting everyone in the congregation to stand as a sign of respect and the posture of the resurrection. Christ is risen. “We pray standing” as Tertullian once said. Standing is the posture of Christians at prayer which expresses our attentiveness to the Word of God and our readiness to carry it out in our daily lives. We mainly stand particularly during the Gospel reading, the Creed, and the General Intercessions as active engagement in the liturgy. We often begin our Mass by singing together to unite our voices in a common word. This processional hymn is a way to unify the congregation, prepare them for the worship, and focus their attention on the great mystery about to be celebrated. It signifies that, we now have started our great mystery of Faith, and symbolically unites the faithful as one body in Christ. Let’s all form a worshipping and welcoming community. Please consider 5 minutes before Mass begins, welcome the person next to you and prepare yourself to join our worshipping community every Sunday!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Happy 20th Sunday