Gospel, Luke 12:49-53
49 'I have come to bring fire to
the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!
51 'Do you suppose that I am here
to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
53 father opposed to son, son to
father, mother to daughter, daughter to mother, mother-in-law to
daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law to mother-in-law.'
Reflections
We all pray for peace and happiness but
what Jesus tells us is rather shocking – “I have
come to bring fire to the earth……I have come not to bring peace on earth but
division”. What was
Jesus trying to tell us?
The
division he was referring to is very real and is happening right here every day
in our families, our society, country and the world. Today there is so much
anger, hatred and jealousy and we are all driven by selfishness, greed and more
greed. Everywhere we see bad winning over good. The good not only are losing
but being persecuted, tortured and killed.
We watch
helplessly and pray for divine intervention but unfortunately God seems to be
deaf to our prayers. What are we to do? Who can we reach out to? Nobody but to
ourselves and our selves alone. Yes, only we can do it not anybody from
outside, not even God as that is not His plan anyway.
We have
to find our own ways to fight evil based on what Jesus taught us.
1. Self-examination of ourselves, sincerely and
passionately – examining
our conscience, our thoughts, our inner desires and feelings towards one
another. Invariably there will be more evil than good in us that is the cause
of our failures and sufferings.
2. Repent – realise and admit our weakness and take steps to
correct them. Get rid from our hearts the greed, selfishness, anger and hatred
for others. Adopt the values of Jesus – love, compassion, forgiveness and
humility instead
3. Change - promise to God that we will change ourselves –
become the change we want to see
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