Today’s Gospel reading for Mass (Luke 12:49-53) can easily be misunderstood if the reader does not exercise proper discretion and take into consideration the full context of the Gospel of Luke and the Scriptures as a whole. Jesus is an effective public speaker who masterfully utilizes all kinds of rhetorical devices to make his point including humor, hyperbole, metaphors, symbols, parables, analogies, and other devices. When we hear Jesus say that he has come not to bring peace but division, we might be tempted to interpret his words literally. However, if we take these words literally, then what is preventing us from assuming that Jesus has come to literally cast fire on the earth? That would seem ridiculous, wouldn’t it? We naturally recognize that, in this case, Jesus is speaking figuratively about casting fire on the earth. The reason is that we consider the full context of his words and actions.
First, nowhere in any of the Scriptures is Jesus found setting literal fires anywhere. He never calls down any fires on anyone or any place. In fact, he rebukes James and John when they wish to call down fire upon their enemies, the Samaritans (Luke 9:54-55). Second, Jesus does not call upon anyone, including his disciples, to go and literally set fires everywhere they go. Since Jesus never causes any fires anywhere, then we must conclude that he is either misleading people about setting fire on earth, or he is speaking symbolically about a spiritual fire. The latter is more likely considering that he goes on to mention a baptism with which he must be baptized. If we consider these words of Jesus in the context of the sequel to the Gospel of Luke, the Acts of the Apostles, we see that the Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. Considering this, it is much more likely that Jesus is expressing a desire that the earth be set ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that is, the love and the grace of the Holy Spirit, not a literal fire.
We should also carefully consider Jesus’ words concerning division in their proper context, so that we might not act rashly upon a faulty understanding of them. Jesus says that he has come not to establish peace on the earth but division. If we take these words literally, then we might think that Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth is to bring division. If that is the case, then we would need the Lord to explain how his words about division contradict what Zechariah says in chapter 1 of Luke’s Gospel. The end of this chapter contains what is commonly known as the Canticle of Zechariah, which contains a prophecy concerning the role that his son John the Baptist will play as the forerunner of the Messiah and declares the nature of the mission of the Messiah among his people Israel. The conclusion of the canticle of Zechariah says: “In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Thus, the Canticle clearly states that the coming of the Messiah is associated with bringing peace. If we understand Jesus as literally coming to bring division, then he cannot be the fulfillment of this prophecy of Zechariah. Therefore, we cannot understand Jesus as literally coming to bring division to earth, but that he is using a rhetorical device to make a point.
Chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel contains another important prophecy from Simeon when the infant Jesus is presented in the Temple. Simeon blesses Mary and Joseph and then says to Mary: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted.” In other words, Jesus has indeed come to be a sign of peace, to guide the people into the way of peace as Zechariah has foretold. However, this sign of God’s peace will be contradicted by those who do not accept this sign of peace. Division thus takes place, not because Jesus wishes to cause division as a primary objective of his mission, but because of the people’s rejection of him. Jesus comes in peace, but he is not so naïve to think that everyone will suddenly embrace the peace that he comes to bring. This makes sense when we consider what Jesus says after declaring in today’s Gospel reading that he has come to bring division. He says, “From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father…” and so on. The peace that Jesus has come to bring will be accepted by some and rejected by others. This accidental division will occur even among people of the same household and the same family.
Jesus warns his disciples of this inevitable division, not to encourage further division, but to encourage fidelity. He knows that his disciples might become discouraged when they see members of their own family reject Christ while they themselves accept him. We are encouraged to persevere in faith, hope, and charity, realizing that these divisions are inevitable. Our primary objective is the objective of Christ, to work for the salvation of souls, which includes working towards peace among all peoples. However, we recognize that our fidelity to Christ might be a source of division in some respects. In this way, the disciples of Christ become a sign of contradiction in imitation of the Lord. This does not mean that we treat those family members or neighbors who reject Christ as our enemies, but we continue to love them, just as the Lord loved his enemies and prayed for those who persecuted him. Our prayer is that when we come to the end of the age, all peoples will be united with one another in Jesus Christ, who has come to guide us all into the way of peace.
– Fr. Matthew Mary, MFVA