Luke 12:49-53

The fire that Jesus speaks of is humble selfless love; love that can transform our world and us.  But, as Jesus warns us, it is a love that is often at odds with the demands and expectations of the world, a faith that does not fit neatly into philosophical and political camps. The Gospel calls us to risk power, prestige and even acceptance for the sake of the “fire” of equality, justice, compassion and reconciliation that every individual possesses by virtue of being a son and daughter of God. We pray today that we may be transformed in the “fire” of God’s selfless love.  We need to take on the “risks” of living our baptisms so that we may be sources of healing and the means of peace in our communities.