Summary

Mother Suzanne tackles a difficult Gospel passage where Jesus speaks of bringing fire to earth and potential family division, acknowledging that many preachers would skip this harsh text. She explains that Jesus, like Old Testament prophets, demands a loyalty so strong it might upset families and communities, but this "fire" represents purification and a new way of being. Rather than focusing on unpredictable things like weather, Jesus calls us to embrace change and new ministry, trusting that "with God's help" we can do this challenging but necessary work.

THE GOSPEL                                                                                                                                              Luke 12:49-56

Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:

father against son
 and son against father,

mother against daughter
 and daughter against mother,

mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
 and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" 

Artwork: Fire Cloud, by Jennifer Walton