Jesus says things that can sound rather harsh. He said, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” and “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” This teaching from Our Lord can be difficult for us who see Jesus as the Prince of Peace. It is easy to see why His words can be very confusing because we usually think of Jesus as bringing peace and love, right?

To understand what Our Lord is teaching us, it is important to know what He means by using words like “fire” and “division.” When Jesus talks about “fire,” He’s not necessarily talking about a destructive fire that burns things down. Instead, Our Lord is talking about the fire of God’s love and truth. The Lord’s fire, like we see above His Most Sacred and Passionate Heart, burns brightly to change hearts and the world for the better. God’s fire can purify motives and helps us to see what is truly important and to live according to His ways. The fire of God’s love purifies like gold in the fire which burns away what is not of God…the lies, the ugliness, the sins.

When Jesus uses the word “division” He isn’t saying He wants families to fight or be unhappy. The division Our Lord is talking about can happen when you choose to follow Jesus and live by His teachings, which includes making choices that are different from what others may say or believe. A simple example may be your friend or family member who wants you to do something that you know is against God’s commandment. If you desire to follow Our Lord, you may have to say “no” to their request even if it causes the other person to become upset or disagree with you. Not everyone is going to understand God’s ways. When you try to explain that you would rather do what God wants instead of doing what the other person or the world wants, that disagreement can create a “division”; between following God and following what is not His desire for us, His beloved Sons & Daughters.

Jesus also warns us about hypocrisy, which is like pretending to be good on the outside while our hearts are not truly good on the inside. Our Lord says, “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” This means that God knows everything in our hearts, and it’s important to be truly good, not just pretend to be. Being a person of integrity and standing up for what you know to be true can cause others to become upset and frustrated especially if they don’t understand your motive or your intentions.

Sometimes, it takes courage to stand up for what is right, even if it means being different from others. Jesus calls His disciples to be brave and acknowledge Him before others. Perhaps when you share the truth in love and purpose, rather than impose the truth, others may come to see the love of God through your willingness to say or do the difficult things.

Let the love and truth of Jesus fill your hearts, just like a campfire warms a campsite. This fire of God’s love will help you and those you love to grow in goodness and become who God is calling us to be. Our Lord can help you be authentic. Be who God created you to be. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not. God wants us all to be honest and sincere in our faith.

Jesus wants us to choose Him above everything else, even if it means making difficult choices or facing disagreements with others. He wants us to be truly committed to Him and His way of life. We need to remember that many of the first Christians were martyred because of their values and beliefs. St. Maria Goretti, St. Cecelia, St. Lucy, St. Agatha, and other women were put to death for remaining virgins. King Henry VIII beheaded St. Thomas More, Chancellor of England, because More refused to compromise his beliefs. St. Maximilian Kolbe was put to death for his willingness to defend a condemned man in a Nazi prison camp. And that division goes on even in our modern times with the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, who fought to educate others on the truth regarding the cultural decay happening in our country. There are parts of the world today in which Christians are literally being put to death simply for being Christian.

Who brings division, hatred, strife, and conflict into our world? Our Lord, or humans? Love or hatred? Good people or people who cannot stand goodness? “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” Jesus told us. Our Lord was crucified for a reason. He was crucified for not always going along just to get along and because He loved you to death.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for Your love and truth. Help us to be brave and follow You, even when it’s difficult. Fill our hearts with Your fire and help us to always be true to You. Amen.

hugs n’ blessings for the fire of God’s love.