LORD JESUS CAST FIRE UPON THE EARTH; REFLECTION BY MARIA CASSIA

Jesus said to his disciples, Ï have come to cast fire upon the earth and how I wish it were already kindled.  I have a baptism to undergo and what anguish I feel until it is over!  Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth?  No I tell you, but rather division.  From now on a 
household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three.   Lk 12



It is sometimes puzzling to think that Jesus had come to bring division.  On a deeper thought,
it is really true.  The division that the Lord is talking about is the division between "those who follow the values of the world and those of Jesus. 

Even in families, division arise out of conflicts on matters of love and hatred.  Some may hate 
the values that they may not recognise to be valid.  But that is the price of discipleship.

Lord Jesus talked about the fire that he had to cast on earth.  "Fire is a symbol of purification
which purifies people from sin and from those values that are not from the Kingdom of God. 
The fire of Jesus stirs up the hidden enthusiasm for God despite of the tribulations one must undergo.

Peace comes when we have the "right relationship with God and others."  Let us abide in Jesus to attain this peace, the peace that the world could never give.

Additional quotes from God's WORD 2013.