20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, Aug 17, 2025)
Luke 12:49-53
In today’s gospel, we have just heard the words of Jesus to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
Perhaps Jesus knew we were starting our retreat today and is saying to us, “I have come to set your hearts on fire during this retreat!”
The fire that Jesus speaks of is the fire of the Holy Spirit, the presence that lives and works within us. A fire that transforms us from within, regenerates us, and makes us able to love. Jesus wants the Holy Spirit to blaze like fire in our hearts. As Pope Francis says, “It does not come from the head, it comes from the heart.” This is why Jesus wants fire to enter our hearts.
However, just in case the flame has dimmed a little and some cold embers have fallen along the wayside, take courage, because from my own experience and those of friends I know that even though Resurrection after Resurrection has taken place in our hearts, retreat after retreat is given and received, renewal after renewal unfolds as we journey along the road of life we can still find the flame within is spluttering at low voltage, and maybe a few of those cold embers are lying around waiting to be rekindled. Together this week, let us fan the flames of any lukewarm or cold embers we may find in our hearts and thank Jesus that He has come to “set our hearts on fire” anew. During these few days, if we can remember to gaze at the horizon of love – Jesus, not ourselves we will find true joy. He is the horizon to which we are walking; he is waiting to be discovered or re-discovered during these days of retreat. He, he alone, is the reason for the journey. The beginning and the end of the journey of this retreat. He and He alone is the flame and the one who stirs the embers into life, into a new and sacred fire in your hearts. As we receive him in Communion today, maybe we could pray, “Come, set our hearts on fire anew.”