“I HAVE TO SET THE EARTH ON FIRE.”

In the Bible, fire is sometimes symbolic of purification (Num 31:23, Ez 22:19-22), and, more often, is associated with God’s judgment (Judith 16:17; Is 66:16; Am 7:4; 2Pet 3:7). The image of fire is also used to symbolize God’s glory (Ez 14:13), His protective presence (2Kg 6:17), His holiness (Deut 4:24), His righteous judgment (Zach 13:9), and His wrath against sin (Is 66:15-16). The image of fire is also used of the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:11 and Acts 2:3). Fire has many characteristics: it warms, purifies, refines, transforms, and burns. As a purifying force, fire burns up what is useless and refines what is impure besides giving warmth and energy. Elijah brought the fire of judgment on the prophets of Baal (1Kg 28:36-40) and the soldiers of King Ahaziah (2Kg 1:10-14). John the Baptist promises that Jesus  “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”(Mt 3:11), and that promise was fulfilled at Pentecost. James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven upon the Samaritans who rejected Jesus, but Jesus would not permit it (Lk 9:54). We are also reminded of the prophet’s words,  “For he is like a refiner’s fire…”(Mal 3:2). The fire burns hot, removing impurities and leaving only that which is desirable. These meanings suggest that the fire which Jesus brings will consume or purify the world. However, it is also possible that he means that his baptism will be a baptism of fire. In the Aramaic language the word translated as “earth” can also mean “earth-oven,” the common stove in Mediterranean villages, heated by burning dried and salted camel-dung patties. The salt is the dried camel dung acted as a catalyst keeping fire burning for a long time giving intense heat. In that sense, Jesus acts as a catalyst in his believers’ life.

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BY GRACE

Jesus tells us what our real treasure should be and how we may keep it safe. The treasure God offers is of far greater value and is more secure than any earthly treasure. Nevertheless, it is possible for us to lose this treasure if we do not guard it carefully. The treasure is the relationship with him which the Lord offers us in his promise of eternal life. But this treasure can be stolen by the devil or lost by a lack of vigilance in the midst of our temptations. Jesus uses two comparisons to explain the nature of vigilance required for us. We must be ready for action like an oriental servant and trimmed for service like an oil lamp. The long flowing robes worn by people of the day were hindrance to work. When a man prepared himself to work, he gathered up his robes under his girdle in order to leave himself free for activity. The reference to fastened belts and lamps burning ready also recalled the preparedness for action which was legislated for Israel in the Passover ritual. Just as the Israelites were to be ready to pass from slavery to freedom, so were the disciples to live in a state of alertness in order to recognize and accept the Passover from sin and death to forgiveness and life which Jesus offered. The eastern lamp was like a cotton wick floating in a vessel of oil. The wick had to be kept trimmed at all times and the lamp replenished with oil. Otherwise the light would go out. What Jesus teaches us through these comparisons is that our relationship with God the Father must be constantly replenished by our prayers, our sacramental life, the reading of the Holy Scriptures and acts of charity. Since the Lord is committed to us in a covenant of unbreakable love and fidelity, we must respond with equal commitment, no matter how difficult it may be. Fortunately, God gives us the grace and strength to remain faithful, and He will reward our faithfulness.

VANITY OF VANITIES

The book of Ecclesiastes (also called Qoheleth) is the most pessimistic and cynical book in the whole Bible. The author claims that  “he has seen all things that are done under the sun”and found them to be  “a chase after the wind”(Ecclesiastes 1:14). He expresses a ruthlessly honest pessimism about the prospects for finding happiness in the greedy acquisition of earthly goods, because the greedy hoarder leaves everything behind at his death and his heir may squander his hard earned wealth. Even while he is alive, wealth and power give man worry and sleeplessness.  “All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation, even at night his mind is not at rest”(Ecclesiastes 2:23). Hence greed and selfishness are not worth the effort. Thus, the statement , “vanity of vanities, all things are vanity!”(Ecclesiastes 1:2), is a blunt summation of Qoheleth’s disturbingly candid skepticism, underscoring the transitory and fleeting character of life. According to an old legend, Alexander the Great (365-323 BC), commanded that when he died and was carried forth to his grave, his hands should not be wrapped in the burial clothes, as was the custom, but should be left outside so that all might see them, and might see also, that they are empty. In the brief span of his thirty-three years, Alexander has conquered and possessed the riches of an empire that extended from Greece to India. Yet in death, his hands were empty, none of his wealth could survive the passage through death.

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PRAYER

Prayer is not putting coins in a vending machine called God to give whatever we wish. We must not look upon God as a sort of genie who grants all our requests. God is our loving “Father” who knows what to give, when to give and how to give. This includes not only our daily bread but also our spiritual needs. Prayer is a relationship—an intimate, loving, caring, parent-child relationship. The Greek text means: “Ask and you will receive something good,”—not just whatever we ask for. The New Testament Greek also instructs us, “ask and keep on asking…seek and keep on seeking…knock and keep on knocking.” Hence, we are to be persistent, declaring our trusting faith and dependence on God. One thing that is sometimes overlooked is about intercessory prayer. One friend goes to another friend on behalf of someone else. A colleague asked C. S. Lewis if he really thought he could change God with his prayer for the cure of his wife’s cancer. Lewis replied: “Prayer does not change God; it changes me.”

WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES?

The episode as given in this week’s gospel reading is intended to teach us how we should set our priorities. Traditionally, the gospel story is interpreted to mean that the quiet life of contemplation and prayer led by monks and nuns and personified in Mary, is superior to a busy life of activity and action, personified in Martha. Jesus did not intend to belittle Martha and her activity, but rather to show that hearing the word of God is the foundation of all action, and that the word of God must permeate all other concerns. The highest priority must be given to listening to the word. Prayer and actions must be continuous, complementary and mutually dependent. Prayer without action is sterile, and action without prayer is empty. We are expected to be ”contemplative in cation” because only those who listen carefully to the Word of God know how to behave in the way God wants, when they show deep concern for the well-being of other people. That is why Jesus reminds Martha that proper service for him is attention to his instruction, not just an elaborate provision for his physical needs. Mary shows her love for the Lord by listening to him. Jesus in fact, needed Mary and Martha to keep him company and listen to him because he was preparing to face the cross.

ARE WE GOOD NEIGHBORS?

A good neighbor does not say, “I do what I want to do,” or even, “I do what I have to do,” but, “I do what I ought to do.” The lawyer’s question—“Who is my neighbor?”—reveals that he was really self-centered. The parable makes us realize that every human person is our neighbor. How have we been good neighbors this week? To whom did we behave in a neighborly way? The parable is a condemnation of our non-involvement as well as an invitation for us to be merciful and kind to those in need, including those in our family, school, neighborhood and parish. We are invited to be people of generosity, kindness, and mercy toward all who are suffering. A sincere smile, a cheery greeting, an encouraging word of appreciation, a heartfelt “thank you” can work wonders for a suffering soul. Within every society, there is fear of those who are “different,” who differ from us in religion, skin-color, dress or language. The parable invites us to make them neighbors. Why? Because “one’s neighbor is the living image of God the Father, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and placed under the permanent action of the Holy Spirit. One’s neighbor must therefore be loved, even if he or she is an enemy, with the same love with which the Lord loves him or her.

PREACH THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND

The kingdom of God comes into being wherever God reigns, and wherever His will is done. The kingdom of God is present in the people through whom God acts. “Hence the early church equated Christ with the kingdom of God because God reigns in Christ, God’s will is done in Christ and God acts through Christ.” Thus, to proclaim the kingdom of God is the same as to proclaim Christ. In fact, the Church from its beginning, by proclaiming the good news of Christ, was being faithful to his mandate to proclaim the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has come upon us if God reigns, if we do God’s will and if God acts through us. The Church is founded on the rock of Peter, a humble, uneducated fisherman who died for the Lord he loved. Compare his faith and heroic witnessing with the “supermarket Catholicism” of some of our politicians who publicly proclaim their “Catholicism<” yet support abortion, gay marriage, human cloning and experimentation with human embryos. We should not be “Catholics for a Free Choice” who oppose anything proposed by the Church, including the basic right to life. Nor should we be armchair Catholics, spiritually weakened warriors, “cafeteria Catholics” or “barely-make-it-to-Mass” members of the Church, who bear counter witness to Christ. Let us become heralds of the kingdom in our own homes by treating each other with profound respect, practice the biblical values and teach our children to grow in holiness.