The word of God is a refining fire. Jesus’ words unsettle us, yet they are spoken for a reason. Throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus calls on his hearers to turn their hearts away from greed and instead to generosity, to turn away from anxious self-preservation and instead to faithful self-giving. But such practice rubs against humanity’s deepest-seated sin, so conflict is inevitably born out of Jesus’ peace-filled activity. Jesus’ words and actions had already pitted him against the religious leaders and will lead him to the cross, and now, in today’s gospel, Jesus speaks to the reality of that division. Perhaps it is a reality we ourselves have experienced from following Jesus. At times, discipleship feels like receiving a baptism by fire! Although fully aware of the realities of conflict and division, we are to live as hopeful people, inspired by the “great cloud of witnesses” (described in Hebrews) that surrounds us and has gone before us in faith. So this Sunday, let us again commit ourselves to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”
