Hearts On Fire

First Reading: Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

Then the princes said to the king, "Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm." King Zedeki'ah said, "Behold, he is in your hands; for the king can do nothing against you." So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchi'ah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire. E'bed-mel'ech went from the king's house and said to the king,

"My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern; and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city." Then the king commanded E'bed-mel'ech, the Ethiopian, "Take three men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."

Psalm: Psalm 40:2-4, 18

Second Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

"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! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." 

Reflection
By Mark Rodney Vertido

This Sunday, the Gospel talks about Jesus’ declaration that he came not to establish peace, but to give division on earth. It sounds confusing because we believe that it is only through God that the peoples of the nations will be united yet the declaration of Jesus shows that there is real division if we will believe in Him.

Is this not observable in our times today? There is real division because of our belief in Jesus. The evidence is the presence of thousands of Christian denominations who broke with Rome starting the 16^th century. Each of these denominations would claim that they are the true Church, etc. Though they come in small numbers, but the very foundations of the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic church is being threatened also. Well, we clearly see that our brother and sister Christians are authentic in their faith yet the question goes on to the authenticity of their doctrines. And the Roman Catholic Church still holds the true faith handed down by the apostles and disciples since the first century. These apostles and disciples were surely the first Christians whose hearts were on fire.

Is your heart on fire for the love of God to do His will? This is the story of every Christian who, in our last week’s reflection, had found where their heart is. When our hearts are on fire for God, we can do the things that He wants of us with no hesitation at all. This is the same story of the Prophets, the Saints, and many of us today, the Church. Simply, if we believe in God and place our trust in Him, it is not impossible also that we will ablaze for God’s love.

Let us take for example the founders of the many religious orders and congregations that we have today. All of them experienced persecutions, doubt, and hatred coming among their colleagues, their families, their friends, their superiors, etc. This is because their hearts are on fire and their desire is burning to do the will of God that even though many will be against them they still need to do it for they were called to do so. Though it shows that in the end all shall be well, all shall be reunited because what they have done is purely of God’s will.

In the Church today, we are being persecuted as Christians. Many of our churches, especially where we are a minority, are being burned and Christians themselves are burned alive or murdered because of their belief. Many of them are not easily discourage for this malediction against Christians. Amidst the darkness of persecution,  their hearts are ablaze with the fire that Jesus spoke in the Gospel.

In the Philippines itself, the Catholic Church is continued to be persecuted by the civil government, the media, and other groups of Catholic-haters. This is very evident as the Church still fights against the passage of anti-life bills. The biased media would throw everything to the Church to silence it. The civil government would conspire to pass immoral bills. And the Catholic-haters will simply destroy and misinform people about the Catholic Church. We see division, there is no peace.

This is reality. As our hearts are on fire, the more that the world will be against us. Is your heart on fire? What can you do then? It is very simple. You just do what God wants you to do and never be afraid for if it comes from God. As proven by Salvation History, God will also make sure that  the work He entrusts to us will be accomplished by being at our side. You just need to listen to your heart because it is there that you will find God. It is there that He keeps you attuned to His will. And it is through this that you will find peace even in the midst of a divided world. Let us then contribute to the evangelization of the people in every nation that this world may be at peace also.

Prayer

Guide us all, O Father, especially the young people, to heed the call of Christ. Give us a burning desire and strength to do Your will. May You live in our hearts and in the hearts of all people. Amen.