Saturday, August 13, 2022

THE CONSUMING FIRE OF LOVE

Meditation for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

(Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Heb 12:1-4; Lk 12:49-53)

Think about the persecutions Jeremiah had to face as he delivered God’s message to the people. He was reminding them the consequences of their evil behaviour, thereby calling to repentance. Words of discipline always sound discouraging and threatening to those who do not want to change their evil ways. The princes conspired against Jeremiah, and convinced the King that the prophet was against them. King Zedekiah handed him over to those evil men, and they cast Jeremiah inside a well.

 

Another man went to the King and condemned the action of the princes. Zedekiah listened to him, and ordered that Jeremiah should be pulled out of the cistern. Think about the extra ordinary courage this Ethiopian servant had that made him to approach the King! There must be an irresistible fire within, urging him to confront the lies of the princes, and daring him to face the consequences of challenging the decision of the king.

 

Such is the fire that Jesus talked about in the gospel, saying, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled.” Yes, God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). He ignites in us that irresistible urge to break barriers, confront unjust structures and stand for the truth of the gospel. The word of God is like fire (Jer 23:29). This inner energy moves us to resist even our most intimate human attachments like father, mother, brother or sister, whenever they tend to be obstacles to the fulfilment of the will of God.

 

Jesus says, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” While introducing Jesus, John the Baptism said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:13). As the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in forms of tongues of fire, they were filled with this irresistible energy that moved them to proclaim the gospel without fear of opposition (Acts 2:1-4). This is the fire Jesus promised to cast upon the earth. It is the perfection of the burning bush Moses encountered, where the fire was blazing but the bush not burnt up (Ex 3:2). This divine fire does not destroy our individuality and freedom, but it energizes us with a love stronger than our earthly attachments.

 

Therefore, the second reading urges us to lay aside every sin and distraction, “Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross.” From the Cross, Jesus won for us the strength to overcome every hostility. Love for Jesus must overshadow our hearts, for it is from His victory that we can overcome. That means this irresistible fire of the Holy Spirit must first overcome our individual internal self-imposed obstacles and attachments before we can move ahead to confront external oppositions. And this requires a total self-surrender to Jesus in love.

 

And this love is so strong and overpowering that we can face every opposition and resist every attachment that is not in line with the truth of the gospel. Meditate on the joy of the Lord in seeing men and women consumed with the fire of His love. Think about His eagerness to supply and refill that inner strength to resist every hostility beginning with our own human desires. He is already consumed with love for us and for His Father’s house (Jn 2:18). So, we humble ourselves and allow the love of Jesus to urge us on (2 Cor 5:14). Hence, we continue to stand for the truth of the gospel, resisting and overcoming every obstacle. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday August 14th, 2022

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2 comments:

  1. So much touched me. Thanks Fr for sharing. May God energize u more and continue to be with you as u evangelize his words. Amenoooo.

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