How do we begin to make sense of what Jesus passionately asserts in today’s Gospel?
“I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:49-50).
- What is this FIRE that Jesus says He’s come to cast upon the earth?
- What is this BAPTISM with which He must be baptized?
The FIRE Jesus exclaims is His fierce love for us. FIRE is an image of God’s insatiable desire for us and for our salvation.
Divine Love makes things bright and pure and free. We open ourselves to receive upon this heavenly FIRE when we entrust ourselves to God. And whenever we do, we are made bright and pure and free! Of course, it does not stop there as intentional disciples – and a community of intentional disciples – as Jesus expects us to cast His holy FIRE – divine love . That is, we are to go forward together to share the transforming and liberating love of Christ with everyone we meet.
Here, and elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus refers to His Crucifixion as His BAPTISM.
BAPTISM is a water metaphor for Jesus’ suffering and death – a suffering and death that Jesus permits and endures for us and for our salvation.
Jesus is describing His anticipation for his crucifixion to take place. Not because he longs for the suffering, but because he’s anticipating the salvation that will pour out through his suffering and death, the rescue of all humanity from the captivity of sin and death. The BAPTISM He anticipates is what He will do for us and for our salvation!
O Sweet Jesus, let your FIRE fall upon us, we want to be aflame with your love and to spread your merciful love to everyone we encounter!
