THE PROPHETIC MISSION OF A DISCIPLE OF JESUS
Introduction: 'I came to cast fire on earth.. I came, not to bring peace, but the sword.' Fire and sword - strange words to hear coming from Jesus. Traditional weapons of torture, which were widely used in the past to subdue the enemies. But we don't expect Jesus to use them. Nor did He. When James and John wanted to bring down fire on a Samaritan village, who did not want the presence of Jesus and His disciples, He flatly refuses them to do so. And when Peter drew his sword in the garden, Jesus tells him to put it away. Hence, these words are not to be taken literally but metaphorically. Yet they stand for something very real and strong in Jesus. Not only do the terms 'fire' and 'sword' stand for something in Himself, they also stand for something about His message. It causes disruption. It brings division. There is no greater disrupter of the 'peace' than the one who preaches justice and truth. In the first reading today, we do have a great example in Prophet Jeremiah.
First Reading: Jeremiah 38: 4 to 6 and 8 to 10
Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 1 to 4
Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 49 to 53
*First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. A detailed account of the various persecutions and innumerable sufferings faced by Jeremiah is given. He is accused of treason by his bitter enemies. They try to destroy him. They put him in a well deep down covered in mud and water up to his knees. They torture him because he speaks against injustice, evil and many sins committed by the chosen people to God. However, the Lord God protects him from all harm and saves him.
*Second reading is from the letter to Hebrews. All who follow Christ are exhorted to persevere in their faith regardless of the cost. They are urged to resist all temptations to sin till the last drop their blood. They are to model themselves on Christ their saviour and Master.
'I came to cast fire on earth.' Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus warns His disciples and all of us that following Him a very challenging and difficult task. It brings division in the life of believers. So they are asked to declare their loyalties and get their priorities right. Discipleship brings division within the family and in the community. Jesus speaks about a divided house: Three against two and two against three. There will be divisions between father and son, mother and daughter and so on. When we stand for the values of Christ, family ties may get broken and relationships may get strained. Hence, a true follower of the Lord is a threat: A source of division, a light that shows up in the darkness. Such a person will face opposition from those who want to remain in darkness. Through today's Gospel, Jesus exhorts us that as Christians, we have to stand up against all evil: All that leads us away from genuine love of God and love of our neighbour. Jesus demands such prophetic commitments from everyone of us. In this context, Helder Camera says: "When I give bread to the poor, they call me a saint. But when I ask why the poor have no bread, they call me a communist." Blessed Oscar Romero, the martyred Arch Bishop of El Salvadore says: "If they kill all your priests and Bishops, each one of you should become God's microphones, each of you should become a prophet; I do not believe in death without resurrection."
Conclusion: Jesus comes to set people's hearts on fire. He brings the warmth of the Father's love to those who live in the coldness of rejection and pain. He brings sword of division wherever falsity reigns. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to come out of the shadows and live in the sunshine of His Kingdom. Let us have the courage and the perseverance to do it.
May the Lord Jesus who urges us to continue His prophetic mission in the world by standing against all forms of injustice and oppressions, bless you and give you the courage to be His true disciple. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, August 17, 2025." Thanks.)
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