August 16, 2025 • 20 mins
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Luke 12: 49-53 - 'How I wish it were blazing already!'
Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs:
- 696 (in 'Symbols of the Holy Spirit') - Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions. the prayer of the prophet Elijah, who "arose like fire" and whose "word burned like a torch," brought down fire from heaven on the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. This event was a "figure" of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches. John the Baptist, who goes "before [the Lord] in the spirit and power of Elijah," proclaims Christ as the one who "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Jesus will say of the Spirit: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!" In the form of tongues "as of fire," the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself The spiritual tradition has retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit's actions. "Do not quench the Spirit."
- 536 (in 'The Baptism of Jesus') - The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Already he is anticipating the "baptism" of his bloody death (abbreviated).
- 607 (in 'Christ's whole life is an offering to the Father') - The desire to embrace his Father's plan of redeeming love inspired Jesus' whole life, for his redemptive passion was the very reason for his Incarnation. and so he asked, "and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour (abbreviated).
- 1225 (in 'Christ's Baptism') - In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
- 2804 (in 'The Seven Petitions') - The first series of petitions carries us toward him, for his own sake: thy name, thy kingdom, thy will! It is characteristic of love to think first of the one whom we love. In none of the three petitions do we mention ourselves; the burning desire, even anguish, of the beloved Son for his Father's glory seizes us (abbreviated).
Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:10):
Hi everyone. Welcome back to daily gospel
exegesis which is the Catholic podcast where we do a verse by
verse exegesis of the scriptures.
So we really look at the literalsense of the scriptures.
We want to give you the tools tohelp you understand Jesus better
and the things he says in the gospels.
What do the words mean? And we always go about In a way
that's faithful to the teaching of the church but in a quite a
(00:33):
rigorous Academic Way. So today we're looking at Luke
chapter 12 verses 49 to 53. So this is the reading you would
hear at today's mass Jesus said to his disciples.
I have come to bring fire to theEarth and how I wish it were
blazing already. There is a baptism I must still
(00:53):
receive and how great is my distress till it is over.
Do you suppose that I am here tobring peace on Earth?
No, I tell you. But rather division for from now
on a household of five will be divided three against two and
two against three, the father divided against the son son
(01:16):
against father, mother against daughter, daughter against
mother mother-in-law against daughter-in-law daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law. So what's the context here?
Jesus is moving From Galilee to Jerusalem for the Final Phase of
his ministry and his doing various types of ministry along
the way. And this is right in the middle
(01:36):
of a speech. And if you've been listening in
the last few days, you will knowthe kinds of things.
He's been saying to his disciples.
So we go to verse 49 today, Jesus said to his disciples,
notice who he's speaking to here.
It's not actually the crowds it's those who are already
Believers. It's his disciples.
And in particular this Is directed to those who were
(01:57):
present with him at that time. He's speaking to those in that
context, who are with him. He says to his disciples, I have
come to bring fire to the Earth and how I wish it were blazing
already. This is an interesting phrase
that it's not entirely clear what it means.
There's different views about it.
It appears only in Luke, so I have come to bring fire to the
(02:19):
Earth and how I wish it were blazing already.
So it seems to carry this idea of Jesus.
Saying, I have come to start something but it hasn't happened
yet, right? That's clearly.
They're on at a minimum he's saying he's come to bring
something and it's not there yetbut he wishes it was, there's a
few different theories about what exactly?
This is. So the first Theory and I think
(02:41):
this fits the context. The best is that Jesus is
thinking of the Christian age, the Christian Missionary
efforts, when people are going out, preaching the gospel, and
that hasn't really happened yet.At the time, the Jesus is
speaking. It will happen.
In the book of Acts that we an explosion of Christians coming
into the kingdom and people preaching in the book of Acts,
(03:03):
that would make sense, because that's what Jesus has been
speaking. About in the previous verses,
he's been giving his disciples advice for when they go
preaching the kingdom in the coming years.
Indeed John the Baptist himself called Jesus one who would
baptize with the Holy Spirit andfire.
That's in Luke 3 16. So early on John Associates,
(03:24):
Jesus with fire. Now in the Bible, fire has lots
of different meanings. The symbol of fire is quite
common and it has different usesactually typically it refers to
purification or judgment. So, some Scholars think, maybe
Jesus isn't thinking of the coming Messianic, age or the
coming Apostolic age. Maybe he's thinking of judgment,
(03:45):
maybe Jesus is saying, I have come to bring judgment on the
earth and indeed Jesus does teach that there will be a
judgment when the son of man comes at the second coming.
So in chapter 17 verses 29 to 30, it does talk about it there.
So possibly Jesus is thinking about judgment.
He continues his thought in. Verse 50, there is a baptism.
(04:06):
I must still receive Or you can translate that as I have a
baptism to be baptized with. So Jesus is saying that he
cannot yet. Bring fire to the Earth whatever
that means unless he does something first, which he calls
a baptism, there is a baptism, Imust still receive so he can't
bring the fire until he's baptized.
(04:27):
What is this baptism that he's talking about?
Well, the next part of the verseis going to make it clear that
it hasn't happened yet at the time.
He's speaking, this baptism, whatever it is.
So it can't be his literal. Prism his baptism in the Jordan
because that has already happened in the past.
So here, he's not thinking of his baptism in the Jordan River.
What could he mean them when? He says, I have a baptism to be
(04:49):
baptized with the baptism. The word basically means
immersion. It's to be immersed in
something. So, the reference here, when
Jesus says, I have a baptism to be baptized with it, appears to
be a reference to his passion and death, when he will be
literally immersed into death and Rise Again to New Life.
So that could be be called a baptism when he dies and rises
(05:11):
again and that makes sense. Because in order for Jesus to
pour out the spirit in order forthe apostolic age to happen,
empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus has to die first in order
for the next plan. Next, phase of God's Plan of
Salvation to happen at the time.Jesus is speaking.
It hasn't happened yet, Jesus hasn't died, so he probably is
(05:31):
saying, I need to die first. There is something that needs to
happen to me, before the fire can be kindled on the earth.
So in that, Since the fire possibly represents the Holy
Spirit. And that certainly the way the
catechism takes it, it sees Jesus here is speaking about
fire in terms of the power of the Holy Spirit.
But Jesus continues verse 50. There is a baptism I must still
(05:53):
receive and how great is my distress till it is over or you
can translate that it as how I am constrained until it is
accomplished. Notice that Jesus says he's
constrained by something, he can't do whatever he wants to do
in its fullness, until he has his baptism.
There's some things that Jesus and the kingdom cannot do and
(06:14):
chill. Jesus, death in particular, the
meaning here, appears to be thatthe Holy Spirit Cannot be poured
out in its fullness to enable the church's Mission until Jesus
dies and that is certainly Jesusteaching elsewhere in the
gospels. He says I must die and return to
the father before I can send theholy spirit.
So I think that's the best way to understand this.
(06:35):
When Jesus says I have come to bring fire to the Earth, it's a
reference basically to the powerof the holy spirit in the
particularly in the apostolic age and the baptism that needs
to happen. First is his death.
So notice that Jesus is planningto die.
He says Is it has to happen. It's not an accident.
It's not just a tragedy though. It is that it's actually planned
by Jesus. In fact in chapter 9 of Luke
(06:57):
verse 51, it says that Jesus sethis face towards Jerusalem so he
planned to go to Jerusalem to die.
Now some Scholars have a different view of this passage.
They see the bringing fire and baptism to be quite closely
linked because they're in the same phrase here.
So some Scholars think that bringing fire and baptism refer
(07:18):
not to two separate events. In the pouring out of this
spirit in the apostolic age. And Jesus death, they're not two
separate events. Some Scholars would say they're
the same future event, which is when Jesus, baptized has the
disciples with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
That's in Acts chapter 2. Maybe that's the fire.
That Jesus longs to see blazing.He's pouring out of the spirit
(07:41):
on the disciples now that would fit in a way, but it doesn't
make the best sense of Jesus. Saying, there is a baptism, I
must still receive Eve the pouring out of the spirit on the
disciples does count as a baptism for them.
But it's not really a baptism for Jesus.
Is it? Because Jesus isn't on the earth
anymore at that time. So I think the best view here is
(08:02):
Jesus pouring out fire on the earth, happens by the holy
spirit in the apostolic age, andthen his baptism that is still
needs to happen, is his death, but it is one of those passages
because it only appears in Luke,we don't have a whole lot of
information about it. So Scholars have different views
on that we get to verse 51 and Jesus now says, Do you suppose
that I am here to bring peace onEarth.
(08:23):
So, why does Jesus say this? I have not come to bring peace
the common view at the time, wasthat when the Messiah would
arrive. So, the Jews believe, when the
Messiah arrived, he would wipe out all of God's enemies.
And then immediately, there would be this piece in the
world. It would just God's people
dwelling in peace on the earth. And there are some Old Testament
passages, which do talk about the Messiah as a piece, bring
(08:44):
out in that sense, particularly the famous passage in Isaiah
where it says, he will be a prince of peace.
So many of Jesus Apostles and followers.
So come to believe that Jesus isthe Messiah, which he is.
So they were probably expecting Jesus to bring peace to the
world, straight away. That was the common view at the
time. Now, Jesus here is not denying
that he will bring peace in somesense.
(09:05):
In fact, if you look at Matthew 5:9, he stresses to his
disciples that they need to be peacemakers.
So certainly part of the Kingdom, coming to Earth is
bringing peace but the point here is that the Jewish
preconceptions at the time of what the Messiah would be.
E like they thought the Messianic age would be quite
peaceful straightaway. Jesus.
Here is concerned that their view of that is blinding them to
(09:27):
what it's actually going to be like in the coming years.
Jesus disciples probably think they're going to have a very
peaceful time. Jesus is going to lead a
peaceful era and they get to be part of this peaceful era but
Jesus needs to correct their false views here.
He needs the disciples to know what's going to happen to them
in the coming years. In particular, the view of the
(09:48):
time was that the Messianic age was going to come straight away,
but Jesus needs to teach them that in the first stages of the
Messianic age. There's going to be great,
struggle, the disciples going tobe persecuted and he needs his
leaders, his church leaders to know that there's going to be a
struggle. The Eternal peace associated
with the Messianic Kingdom will come one day, but not until the
(10:09):
kingdom comes in its fullness. So the Jews largely had this
monolithic view of the Kingdom. They believed when Kingdom
comes. It's all going to happen at
once, but Jesus constantly has to correct them and say no.
It's going to happen in stages. And the first few stages are
going to involve considerable struggle.
So Jesus says, do not suppose that I am here to bring peace on
(10:31):
the earth. No, I tell you but rather
division Matthews version intensifies.
This it actually says, I've not come to bring peace but a sword
and most Scholars here. Think that Luke.
The original here is a sword butLuke has softened it for his
audience to say. Rather division, this idea that
Jesus came to bring division notpiece, it's not very popular
(10:52):
today. Is it, it's probably different
from the message. You were taught at primary
school and secondary school, which is the Jesus come to bring
only piece that's sort of true in a sense, but we need to take
stock of his words here. He says that certainly as the
kingdom is not yet here in its fullness, he his coming
necessarily involves division. What he's saying is that I will
(11:13):
bring the opposite of peace. I'm going to bring Division and
that would have been Looking forthe apostles and the disciples
to hear Jesus is now going to explain this a bit more which is
good because otherwise we might misinterpret him to mean that
he's come to bring War but he doesn't say he's come to bring
more, he's going to explain whathe means.
By division verse 52 for from now on a household of five will
(11:35):
be divided. Now in that culture, family
Bonds were really strong Jesus. He knows what he's coming for
his followers. He knows that for many of them,
their own family members are going to reject, Them because
they're Christian and that did indeed happen in the early
years. It was basically a crime to be a
Christian. The Jews did not like Christians
in the early years. So Jesus says from now on a
(11:57):
household of five will be divided three against two and
two against three. So the idea here is that in the
coming years, some in the house will be Christians, others will
not be. And then Jesus gives this long
list of what relationships that will include.
So verse 53, the father divided against the sun, the sun against
the father mother against daughter, daughter against
(12:20):
mother mother-in-law against daughter-in-law daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law. Now, that seems like a very
specific list of relationships. This, you know, there's some
that he hasn't mentioned here. For example he hasn't said the
sun against mother but he did say son against father.
Why has he used this formulation?
It appears that Is he was quoting from Micah 76, which
(12:42):
says the son treats, the father with contempt, the daughter
Rises up against her mother, thedaughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. A Man's enemies are the enemies
of his own house. Interesting, isn't it?
So, Jesus seems to be quoting from that in context.
Thereof Mica Mica is morning. That many of God's people have
(13:02):
turned from him and there are a few left to follow him.
That was the original context. So it's kind of like there
aren't many good. Followers of God left, everyone
is turning against them, so it'san appropriate metaphor for
Jesus to use in this context too.
Now in my car, the prophet then goes on to describe Israel's
regathering and restoration. If you continue in Micah chapter
(13:24):
12, Micah chapter 7. Sorry, it goes on to talk about
how Israel will be regathered somaybe there, there's an illusion
here to Israel's ultimate regathering at his second
coming, and that's described a bit later in the New Testament
as well. In Romans chapter 11, it talks
about how one day Israel will come back to God through the
Messiah, but that hasn't happened yet.
(13:45):
Certainly that would fit Luke's name, Lucas, always on about how
Jesus has come to regather Israel into its true form.
So, maybe there's a reference there to that.
What Jesus has just said here, about houses being divided
against themselves family members, that's huge, family
members in that culture is supposed to be a person's
closest and most trustworthy Ally.
(14:08):
So, Jesus is telling his disciples what's to come.
He wants them to be prepared. It's not going to be easy.
Does this apply today? Well the circumstances.
Since today is somewhat different.
It's a little easier to be a Christian, at least in the 21st
century, but in a western Society, the principal is
probably still enduring in a waythough.
Jesus teaching here is that being a Christian will bring
(14:30):
division in the family? It's a necessary part of the
Kingdom. Coming into conflict with the
world, it's a logical effect of the message of the kingdom and
obviously that plays out more strongly in some countries
rather than others today. Jesus has more to say here.
There's In this speech and we'lllook at that in the coming days.
Let's now turn to the catechism and this text, although it's not
(14:53):
particularly well known, it is does get a lot of air time in
the catechism. The catechism uses this text to
inform a lot of our Catholic teaching.
So let's start with paragraph 696.
This is in the section about theHoly Spirit and it says, the
fire is a symbol of the holy spirit.
So I'll read out this entire paragraph because it covers lots
(15:13):
of different meanings of fire. And Jesus might have some or all
of these in mind here when he talks about fire in Luke,
Chapter 12. While water signifies birth and
the fruitfulness of Life. Given in the Holy Spirit, fire
symbolizes the transforming energy of the holy spirit's
actions, the prayer of the Prophet.
Elijah who arose like fire and whose word burned like a torch
(15:37):
brought down, fire from heaven, on the sacrifice on Mount
Carmel. This event was a figure of the
fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches,
John, the Baptist who goes before the Lord in the spirit
and power of Elijah. A proclaims Christ as the one
who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
(15:58):
Jesus will say of the spirit I came to cast fire upon the Earth
and would that it were already kindled in the form of tongues
as of fire. The Holy Spirit rests on the
disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with
himself. The spiritual tradition has
retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expresses
expressive images of the holy spirit's actions.
(16:21):
Do not Not quench the spirit so you probably heard right in the
middle of that paragraph. It quotes from Luke chapter 12
here and then the reference to Jesus Desiring.
A baptism actually gets referenced a few times in the
catechism. So, paragraph, 536, this is
about Jesus literal baptism in the Jordan.
The baptism of Jesus is on his part, the acceptance and
(16:43):
inauguration of his mission as God's suffering servant.
He allows himself to be numberedamong Sinners.
He is already the Lamb of God who takes It's away the sin of
the world already. He's anticipating the baptism of
his bloody death. So here, the catechism,
explicitly references in that last line.
Jesus is anticipating the baptism of his bloody death.
(17:04):
So the Catholic catechism here, understands Luke, chapter 12.
When Jesus says, I desire a baptism, it is a reference to
his death. That is the catechisms
understanding paragraph six or seven.
This is in the section about, Christ's life as an offering to
the Father, the desire to embrace.
Race. His father's Plan of Salvation
and redeeming Love Inspired. Jesus whole life.
(17:27):
For his Redemptive passion with the very reason for his
Incarnation. And so he asked and what shall I
say? Father, save me from this hour.
No, for this purpose, I have come to this hour.
And there are references, Luke chapter 12, and Jesus necessity
of suffering which is mentioned here in Luke 12 paragraph 12 to
(17:49):
5. Again, this is about Christ's
baptism. In his Passover Christ, open to
all men, the Fountain of baptismhe had already spoken of his
passion which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem as a baptism
with, which he had to be baptized the blood and water
that flowed from the pier side of the crucified Jesus are types
of baptism. And the Eucharist, the
(18:11):
sacraments of new life from, then on it is possible to be
born of water and the spirit in order to enter the kingdom of
God, So just as Jesus baptism inhis death is an immersion into
death as Christians get baptizedby water and the spirit the
sacrament of baptism we get baptized into Christ's death as
(18:32):
well. So the really is a link here
between Christian baptism and Jesus own death.
Thus the theme of immersion is common to both.
Lastly paragraph 28 04 and this is a commentary on the Our
Father. It says the first series of
petitions carries us towards himfor his own.
Sake by name, thy kingdom, come thy will is characteristic of
(18:54):
love to think of the one whom welove in none of the three
petitions. Do we mention ourselves?
The Burning Desire, even anguishof the beloved Son for his
father's Glory Caesars us. So that's an interesting link.
So here is Luke in Luke chapter.12 is Jesus says, he desires the
father's Glory his in anguish until that happens.
(19:16):
That's what it says here in Luke.
The Catholic Church understands that when we pray the Our father
and we say, thy kingdom. Come we desire.
God's will with that same kind of Anguish.
So that's a really interesting link, isn't it?
We'll leave it there for today. I hope you can see it's actually
quite a rich text and there's a lot more that could be said
about it and will continue to move through Luke in the coming
(19:37):
days. If you're enjoying this series,
if you think there's others, whowould enjoy it too, please share
it with them.
Hi everyone. Welcome back to daily gospel
exegesis which is the Catholic podcast where we do a verse by
verse exegesis of the scriptures.
So we really look at the literalsense of the scriptures.
We want to give you the tools tohelp you understand Jesus better
and the things he says in the gospels.
What do the words mean? And we always go about In a way
that's faithful to the teaching of the church but in a quite a
(00:33):
rigorous Academic Way. So today we're looking at Luke
chapter 12 verses 49 to 53. So this is the reading you would
hear at today's mass Jesus said to his disciples.
I have come to bring fire to theEarth and how I wish it were
blazing already. There is a baptism I must still
(00:53):
receive and how great is my distress till it is over.
Do you suppose that I am here tobring peace on Earth?
No, I tell you. But rather division for from now
on a household of five will be divided three against two and
two against three, the father divided against the son son
(01:16):
against father, mother against daughter, daughter against
mother mother-in-law against daughter-in-law daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law. So what's the context here?
Jesus is moving From Galilee to Jerusalem for the Final Phase of
his ministry and his doing various types of ministry along
the way. And this is right in the middle
(01:36):
of a speech. And if you've been listening in
the last few days, you will knowthe kinds of things.
He's been saying to his disciples.
So we go to verse 49 today, Jesus said to his disciples,
notice who he's speaking to here.
It's not actually the crowds it's those who are already
Believers. It's his disciples.
And in particular this Is directed to those who were
(01:57):
present with him at that time. He's speaking to those in that
context, who are with him. He says to his disciples, I have
come to bring fire to the Earth and how I wish it were blazing
already. This is an interesting phrase
that it's not entirely clear what it means.
There's different views about it.
It appears only in Luke, so I have come to bring fire to the
(02:19):
Earth and how I wish it were blazing already.
So it seems to carry this idea of Jesus.
Saying, I have come to start something but it hasn't happened
yet, right? That's clearly.
They're on at a minimum he's saying he's come to bring
something and it's not there yetbut he wishes it was, there's a
few different theories about what exactly?
This is. So the first Theory and I think
(02:41):
this fits the context. The best is that Jesus is
thinking of the Christian age, the Christian Missionary
efforts, when people are going out, preaching the gospel, and
that hasn't really happened yet.At the time, the Jesus is
speaking. It will happen.
In the book of Acts that we an explosion of Christians coming
into the kingdom and people preaching in the book of Acts,
(03:03):
that would make sense, because that's what Jesus has been
speaking. About in the previous verses,
he's been giving his disciples advice for when they go
preaching the kingdom in the coming years.
Indeed John the Baptist himself called Jesus one who would
baptize with the Holy Spirit andfire.
That's in Luke 3 16. So early on John Associates,
(03:24):
Jesus with fire. Now in the Bible, fire has lots
of different meanings. The symbol of fire is quite
common and it has different usesactually typically it refers to
purification or judgment. So, some Scholars think, maybe
Jesus isn't thinking of the coming Messianic, age or the
coming Apostolic age. Maybe he's thinking of judgment,
(03:45):
maybe Jesus is saying, I have come to bring judgment on the
earth and indeed Jesus does teach that there will be a
judgment when the son of man comes at the second coming.
So in chapter 17 verses 29 to 30, it does talk about it there.
So possibly Jesus is thinking about judgment.
He continues his thought in. Verse 50, there is a baptism.
(04:06):
I must still receive Or you can translate that as I have a
baptism to be baptized with. So Jesus is saying that he
cannot yet. Bring fire to the Earth whatever
that means unless he does something first, which he calls
a baptism, there is a baptism, Imust still receive so he can't
bring the fire until he's baptized.
(04:27):
What is this baptism that he's talking about?
Well, the next part of the verseis going to make it clear that
it hasn't happened yet at the time.
He's speaking, this baptism, whatever it is.
So it can't be his literal. Prism his baptism in the Jordan
because that has already happened in the past.
So here, he's not thinking of his baptism in the Jordan River.
What could he mean them when? He says, I have a baptism to be
(04:49):
baptized with the baptism. The word basically means
immersion. It's to be immersed in
something. So, the reference here, when
Jesus says, I have a baptism to be baptized with it, appears to
be a reference to his passion and death, when he will be
literally immersed into death and Rise Again to New Life.
So that could be be called a baptism when he dies and rises
(05:11):
again and that makes sense. Because in order for Jesus to
pour out the spirit in order forthe apostolic age to happen,
empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus has to die first in order
for the next plan. Next, phase of God's Plan of
Salvation to happen at the time.Jesus is speaking.
It hasn't happened yet, Jesus hasn't died, so he probably is
(05:31):
saying, I need to die first. There is something that needs to
happen to me, before the fire can be kindled on the earth.
So in that, Since the fire possibly represents the Holy
Spirit. And that certainly the way the
catechism takes it, it sees Jesus here is speaking about
fire in terms of the power of the Holy Spirit.
But Jesus continues verse 50. There is a baptism I must still
(05:53):
receive and how great is my distress till it is over or you
can translate that it as how I am constrained until it is
accomplished. Notice that Jesus says he's
constrained by something, he can't do whatever he wants to do
in its fullness, until he has his baptism.
There's some things that Jesus and the kingdom cannot do and
(06:14):
chill. Jesus, death in particular, the
meaning here, appears to be thatthe Holy Spirit Cannot be poured
out in its fullness to enable the church's Mission until Jesus
dies and that is certainly Jesusteaching elsewhere in the
gospels. He says I must die and return to
the father before I can send theholy spirit.
So I think that's the best way to understand this.
(06:35):
When Jesus says I have come to bring fire to the Earth, it's a
reference basically to the powerof the holy spirit in the
particularly in the apostolic age and the baptism that needs
to happen. First is his death.
So notice that Jesus is planningto die.
He says Is it has to happen. It's not an accident.
It's not just a tragedy though. It is that it's actually planned
by Jesus. In fact in chapter 9 of Luke
(06:57):
verse 51, it says that Jesus sethis face towards Jerusalem so he
planned to go to Jerusalem to die.
Now some Scholars have a different view of this passage.
They see the bringing fire and baptism to be quite closely
linked because they're in the same phrase here.
So some Scholars think that bringing fire and baptism refer
(07:18):
not to two separate events. In the pouring out of this
spirit in the apostolic age. And Jesus death, they're not two
separate events. Some Scholars would say they're
the same future event, which is when Jesus, baptized has the
disciples with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
That's in Acts chapter 2. Maybe that's the fire.
That Jesus longs to see blazing.He's pouring out of the spirit
(07:41):
on the disciples now that would fit in a way, but it doesn't
make the best sense of Jesus. Saying, there is a baptism, I
must still receive Eve the pouring out of the spirit on the
disciples does count as a baptism for them.
But it's not really a baptism for Jesus.
Is it? Because Jesus isn't on the earth
anymore at that time. So I think the best view here is
(08:02):
Jesus pouring out fire on the earth, happens by the holy
spirit in the apostolic age, andthen his baptism that is still
needs to happen, is his death, but it is one of those passages
because it only appears in Luke,we don't have a whole lot of
information about it. So Scholars have different views
on that we get to verse 51 and Jesus now says, Do you suppose
that I am here to bring peace onEarth.
(08:23):
So, why does Jesus say this? I have not come to bring peace
the common view at the time, wasthat when the Messiah would
arrive. So, the Jews believe, when the
Messiah arrived, he would wipe out all of God's enemies.
And then immediately, there would be this piece in the
world. It would just God's people
dwelling in peace on the earth. And there are some Old Testament
passages, which do talk about the Messiah as a piece, bring
(08:44):
out in that sense, particularly the famous passage in Isaiah
where it says, he will be a prince of peace.
So many of Jesus Apostles and followers.
So come to believe that Jesus isthe Messiah, which he is.
So they were probably expecting Jesus to bring peace to the
world, straight away. That was the common view at the
time. Now, Jesus here is not denying
that he will bring peace in somesense.
(09:05):
In fact, if you look at Matthew 5:9, he stresses to his
disciples that they need to be peacemakers.
So certainly part of the Kingdom, coming to Earth is
bringing peace but the point here is that the Jewish
preconceptions at the time of what the Messiah would be.
E like they thought the Messianic age would be quite
peaceful straightaway. Jesus.
Here is concerned that their view of that is blinding them to
(09:27):
what it's actually going to be like in the coming years.
Jesus disciples probably think they're going to have a very
peaceful time. Jesus is going to lead a
peaceful era and they get to be part of this peaceful era but
Jesus needs to correct their false views here.
He needs the disciples to know what's going to happen to them
in the coming years. In particular, the view of the
(09:48):
time was that the Messianic age was going to come straight away,
but Jesus needs to teach them that in the first stages of the
Messianic age. There's going to be great,
struggle, the disciples going tobe persecuted and he needs his
leaders, his church leaders to know that there's going to be a
struggle. The Eternal peace associated
with the Messianic Kingdom will come one day, but not until the
(10:09):
kingdom comes in its fullness. So the Jews largely had this
monolithic view of the Kingdom. They believed when Kingdom
comes. It's all going to happen at
once, but Jesus constantly has to correct them and say no.
It's going to happen in stages. And the first few stages are
going to involve considerable struggle.
So Jesus says, do not suppose that I am here to bring peace on
(10:31):
the earth. No, I tell you but rather
division Matthews version intensifies.
This it actually says, I've not come to bring peace but a sword
and most Scholars here. Think that Luke.
The original here is a sword butLuke has softened it for his
audience to say. Rather division, this idea that
Jesus came to bring division notpiece, it's not very popular
(10:52):
today. Is it, it's probably different
from the message. You were taught at primary
school and secondary school, which is the Jesus come to bring
only piece that's sort of true in a sense, but we need to take
stock of his words here. He says that certainly as the
kingdom is not yet here in its fullness, he his coming
necessarily involves division. What he's saying is that I will
(11:13):
bring the opposite of peace. I'm going to bring Division and
that would have been Looking forthe apostles and the disciples
to hear Jesus is now going to explain this a bit more which is
good because otherwise we might misinterpret him to mean that
he's come to bring War but he doesn't say he's come to bring
more, he's going to explain whathe means.
By division verse 52 for from now on a household of five will
(11:35):
be divided. Now in that culture, family
Bonds were really strong Jesus. He knows what he's coming for
his followers. He knows that for many of them,
their own family members are going to reject, Them because
they're Christian and that did indeed happen in the early
years. It was basically a crime to be a
Christian. The Jews did not like Christians
in the early years. So Jesus says from now on a
(11:57):
household of five will be divided three against two and
two against three. So the idea here is that in the
coming years, some in the house will be Christians, others will
not be. And then Jesus gives this long
list of what relationships that will include.
So verse 53, the father divided against the sun, the sun against
the father mother against daughter, daughter against
(12:20):
mother mother-in-law against daughter-in-law daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law. Now, that seems like a very
specific list of relationships. This, you know, there's some
that he hasn't mentioned here. For example he hasn't said the
sun against mother but he did say son against father.
Why has he used this formulation?
It appears that Is he was quoting from Micah 76, which
(12:42):
says the son treats, the father with contempt, the daughter
Rises up against her mother, thedaughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. A Man's enemies are the enemies
of his own house. Interesting, isn't it?
So, Jesus seems to be quoting from that in context.
Thereof Mica Mica is morning. That many of God's people have
(13:02):
turned from him and there are a few left to follow him.
That was the original context. So it's kind of like there
aren't many good. Followers of God left, everyone
is turning against them, so it'san appropriate metaphor for
Jesus to use in this context too.
Now in my car, the prophet then goes on to describe Israel's
regathering and restoration. If you continue in Micah chapter
(13:24):
12, Micah chapter 7. Sorry, it goes on to talk about
how Israel will be regathered somaybe there, there's an illusion
here to Israel's ultimate regathering at his second
coming, and that's described a bit later in the New Testament
as well. In Romans chapter 11, it talks
about how one day Israel will come back to God through the
Messiah, but that hasn't happened yet.
(13:45):
Certainly that would fit Luke's name, Lucas, always on about how
Jesus has come to regather Israel into its true form.
So, maybe there's a reference there to that.
What Jesus has just said here, about houses being divided
against themselves family members, that's huge, family
members in that culture is supposed to be a person's
closest and most trustworthy Ally.
(14:08):
So, Jesus is telling his disciples what's to come.
He wants them to be prepared. It's not going to be easy.
Does this apply today? Well the circumstances.
Since today is somewhat different.
It's a little easier to be a Christian, at least in the 21st
century, but in a western Society, the principal is
probably still enduring in a waythough.
Jesus teaching here is that being a Christian will bring
(14:30):
division in the family? It's a necessary part of the
Kingdom. Coming into conflict with the
world, it's a logical effect of the message of the kingdom and
obviously that plays out more strongly in some countries
rather than others today. Jesus has more to say here.
There's In this speech and we'lllook at that in the coming days.
Let's now turn to the catechism and this text, although it's not
(14:53):
particularly well known, it is does get a lot of air time in
the catechism. The catechism uses this text to
inform a lot of our Catholic teaching.
So let's start with paragraph 696.
This is in the section about theHoly Spirit and it says, the
fire is a symbol of the holy spirit.
So I'll read out this entire paragraph because it covers lots
(15:13):
of different meanings of fire. And Jesus might have some or all
of these in mind here when he talks about fire in Luke,
Chapter 12. While water signifies birth and
the fruitfulness of Life. Given in the Holy Spirit, fire
symbolizes the transforming energy of the holy spirit's
actions, the prayer of the Prophet.
Elijah who arose like fire and whose word burned like a torch
(15:37):
brought down, fire from heaven, on the sacrifice on Mount
Carmel. This event was a figure of the
fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches,
John, the Baptist who goes before the Lord in the spirit
and power of Elijah. A proclaims Christ as the one
who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
(15:58):
Jesus will say of the spirit I came to cast fire upon the Earth
and would that it were already kindled in the form of tongues
as of fire. The Holy Spirit rests on the
disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with
himself. The spiritual tradition has
retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expresses
expressive images of the holy spirit's actions.
(16:21):
Do not Not quench the spirit so you probably heard right in the
middle of that paragraph. It quotes from Luke chapter 12
here and then the reference to Jesus Desiring.
A baptism actually gets referenced a few times in the
catechism. So, paragraph, 536, this is
about Jesus literal baptism in the Jordan.
The baptism of Jesus is on his part, the acceptance and
(16:43):
inauguration of his mission as God's suffering servant.
He allows himself to be numberedamong Sinners.
He is already the Lamb of God who takes It's away the sin of
the world already. He's anticipating the baptism of
his bloody death. So here, the catechism,
explicitly references in that last line.
Jesus is anticipating the baptism of his bloody death.
(17:04):
So the Catholic catechism here, understands Luke, chapter 12.
When Jesus says, I desire a baptism, it is a reference to
his death. That is the catechisms
understanding paragraph six or seven.
This is in the section about, Christ's life as an offering to
the Father, the desire to embrace.
Race. His father's Plan of Salvation
and redeeming Love Inspired. Jesus whole life.
(17:27):
For his Redemptive passion with the very reason for his
Incarnation. And so he asked and what shall I
say? Father, save me from this hour.
No, for this purpose, I have come to this hour.
And there are references, Luke chapter 12, and Jesus necessity
of suffering which is mentioned here in Luke 12 paragraph 12 to
(17:49):
5. Again, this is about Christ's
baptism. In his Passover Christ, open to
all men, the Fountain of baptismhe had already spoken of his
passion which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem as a baptism
with, which he had to be baptized the blood and water
that flowed from the pier side of the crucified Jesus are types
of baptism. And the Eucharist, the
(18:11):
sacraments of new life from, then on it is possible to be
born of water and the spirit in order to enter the kingdom of
God, So just as Jesus baptism inhis death is an immersion into
death as Christians get baptizedby water and the spirit the
sacrament of baptism we get baptized into Christ's death as
(18:32):
well. So the really is a link here
between Christian baptism and Jesus own death.
Thus the theme of immersion is common to both.
Lastly paragraph 28 04 and this is a commentary on the Our
Father. It says the first series of
petitions carries us towards himfor his own.
Sake by name, thy kingdom, come thy will is characteristic of
(18:54):
love to think of the one whom welove in none of the three
petitions. Do we mention ourselves?
The Burning Desire, even anguishof the beloved Son for his
father's Glory Caesars us. So that's an interesting link.
So here is Luke in Luke chapter.12 is Jesus says, he desires the
father's Glory his in anguish until that happens.
(19:16):
That's what it says here in Luke.
The Catholic Church understands that when we pray the Our father
and we say, thy kingdom. Come we desire.
God's will with that same kind of Anguish.
So that's a really interesting link, isn't it?
We'll leave it there for today. I hope you can see it's actually
quite a rich text and there's a lot more that could be said
about it and will continue to move through Luke in the coming
(19:37):
days. If you're enjoying this series,
if you think there's others, whowould enjoy it too, please share
it with them.
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