Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Psalm 40:2, 3, 4, 18; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53

Good afternoon.

1. Today’s Gospel opens with one of the most striking and radical declarations from Jesus: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49). This powerful statement reveals something profound about Jesus’ mission. He did not come merely to comfort or to instruct—He came to ignite. The fire He speaks of is not destructive, but transformative. It is the fire of divine love, of truth, of the Holy Spirit. It is the fire that purifies, refines, and renews.
2. Throughout Scripture, fire is a symbol of God’s presence and action. In the burning bush that was not consumed (Exodus 3:2–5), God revealed Himself to Moses. On Mount Sinai, fire signified the majesty and holiness of God (Exodus 19:18). The prophet Malachi spoke of God as a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2–3), purifying His people. At Pentecost, tongues of fire descended upon the apostles (Acts 2:3–4), marking the birth of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Even John the Baptist foretold that Christ would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).
3. This fire is not literal flame—it is the divine energy that transforms hearts, minds, and lives. It is the fire of God’s love that burns away sin, selfishness, and fear. It is the fire that awakens us to our true identity and vocation: to be children of light, bearers of truth, and instruments of peace.
4. From the earliest days of Christianity, this fire has been at work. The apostles, martyrs, saints, missionaries, and faithful believers have all been touched by it. They allowed themselves to be consumed—not destroyed—but refined by the flame of divine grace. The Church, as the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22–23), and as steward of God’s mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1–2; 1 Peter 4:10), continues to carry this fire to the ends of the earth. In doing so, it opens a path for a new humanity, cooperating with God’s desire to renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104:30; Revelation 21:1–4).
5. But may ask: What makes Jesus’ fire different from the fires of this world? How does the fire of Christ compare to the fires lit by politicians, dictators, and warlords—fires of violence, oppression, and destruction? The fires of this world—missiles, bombs, weapons—consume and annihilate. They destroy lives, communities, and nature. They extinguish hope, dignity, and dreams. These are fires of domination and fear.
6. But the fire of Christ is altogether different. It is the fire of the burning bush—a flame that blazes but does not consume (Exodus 3:2). It is the fire of the Holy Spirit—a flame that purifies without destroying. In burning, it reveals the truest and best parts of us. Like a refiner’s fire, it melts away the impurities and draws out the gold within. It awakens our conscience, enlightens our minds, and enables us to choose what is true, good, and beautiful.
7. Origen (c. 185 – c. 253), one of the early Church Fathers, once wrote in his commentary on Jeremiah, quoting Jesus: “He who is near me is near the fire; he who is far from me is far from the kingdom.” This passage reveals a fundamental truth: in Christ, we draw near to the fire; a fire which doesn’t harm, does heal. For in Jesus dwells the fullness of God, who is often described in Scripture as a consuming fire—not of wrath, but of love.
8. Jesus’ fire enacts a transformation. But transformation requires sacrifice. Something in us must be consumed: the pride, the selfishness, the sin that separates us from God and neighbour. This fire purifies our hearts, renews our minds, and reshapes our lives. It is not comfortable, but it is necessary. It is the path to holiness.
9. So today, let us ask ourselves:
   Are we willing to be set ablaze by Christ?
   Are we open to the fire of His love, even if it means letting go of what corrupts us?
   Are we ready to be transformed—not just individually, but as a Church, as a community, as a world?
10. Let us not fear the fire of Christ. Let us welcome it. For it is the fire that brings light to darkness, hope to despair, and life to death. It is the fire that renews the earth and prepares us for the Kingdom of God.

May the Holy Spirit kindle this fire in our hearts today and every day.

Amen.

Mukadi Ilunga, SJ