Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10 / Hebrews 12:1-4 / Luke 12:49-53
It is often said that we live in a small world, a small world in the figurative sense of the word.
We will see how true this is when we realize, and are amazed, at how closely we are connected to each other.
We may have a friend, who is related to someone else, who in turn is related to someone else, and then that someone else is also related to us.
So, from being a friend, we suddenly realise that we are distant relatives.
Indeed, this is a small world, and we are more closely connected than we think.
With these close connections, then people's views and opinions spread faster and further.
On a personal level, we can't deny that we can be affected by how others see us, and what they think of us.
And we will be concerned and anxious about people's views and opinions about us, especially when it is not that pleasant.
In the 1st reading, the prophet Jeremiah's reputation was not favourable to the king’s leading men.
They wanted to put him to death for disheartening the people with the so-called bad news.
Even the king wasn't able to stop the leading men from throwing Jeremiah into the well.
Such is the fate of a true prophet who proclaims the Word of God to those who are not willing to listen.
In the gospel, what Jesus said would certainly disturb us, and make us wonder about what He meant.
Jesus talks about bringing fire to the earth, and how He wished it were blazing already.
Obviously, this fire is in the figurative sense, and it has a deeper meaning.
It is a spiritual fire that burns away impurities and it is also a fire that enlightens.
In our interactions and connections with family, relatives and friends, we are very much concerned about their views and opinions.
Very often, the question that we ask ourselves is this: What will others say? What will people say?
So yes, we are concerned about what others say and think about us. We are concerned about public opinion.
So, we will go with the flow, we will conform, we will stay with the majority.
But, the question is not “What will others say?”, or, “What will people say?”
The burning question is this: What will God say?
In order to hear what God will say, we will have to pray.
In prayer, we will remember how Jesus responded to others, especially with their snide and disparaging remarks.
When He was nailed to the Cross, the crowd taunted Him by saying: If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross and save yourself.
And the other criminal also abused Jesus by saying: If you are the Son of God, save yourself, and us as well.
But Jesus remained silent and did not do what they wanted Him to do.
Jesus did what God wanted Him to do, and that is to bear with the abusing and disparaging.
In listening to God, and obeying God, Jesus won salvation for us.
The 2nd reading urges us with this: Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection.
May the fire of God's love enlighten us to listen to what He is saying to us.
And may we obey and follow Jesus, and walk with Him towards salvation.