Homily – “Fire, Division, and Decision”

Brothers and sisters,

When Jesus says in today’s Gospel:

“I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already blazing!”

—He is not talking about the warm glow of a campfire.
This is not sentimental language.
This is a dangerous, purifying, unstoppable fire—the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire of divine love, the fire that changes everything it touches.

In the first reading from Jeremiah 38, we see what happens when that fire burns in someone. Jeremiah is thrown into a muddy cistern for speaking God’s truth. His preaching was not politically correct; it was not designed to please the crowd. It was God’s Word—whether people liked it or not.

This is the prophetic mission of the Church. We are not called to say what the world wants to hear; we are called to say what it needs to hear. The Church exists to pass on what she has received from Christ, not to rewrite it. And yes, like Jeremiah, we may be misunderstood, mocked, or even persecuted for it.

In the Gospel, Jesus shocks us:

“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

Wait—didn’t the angels at Bethlehem sing “Peace on earth”?
Yes. But the peace Jesus brings is not a comfortable truce with sin. It is peace with God—through repentance, conversion, and holiness. And that peace will inevitably cause conflict with the world, with the devil, and sometimes even within our own families.

Why? Because when you choose Christ, you cannot choose neutral.
The fire of the Gospel forces a decision. And decisions divide.

The second reading from Hebrews 12 gives us the key:

“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”

We are in a race. Not a casual stroll, not a hobby. A race to eternal life. And if you run a race, you do not carry baggage. You strip off “every encumbrance and the sin that clings” so that you can reach the finish line.

The saints understood this. They loved their families deeply, but they loved God more. They were loyal citizens, but they obeyed God first. They gave up comforts, wealth, reputation—anything that slowed them down in the race toward Heaven.

This is why the Catholic Church—2,000 years later—still refuses to dilute Christ’s teaching on the sanctity of life, marriage, sexuality, justice, and the necessity of the sacraments. The Church is not being stubborn for stubbornness’ sake. She is protecting the fire.

If the Church ever preaches a “Gospel” that doesn’t challenge you, doesn’t call you to repentance, doesn’t set you on fire for holiness—then it’s not Christ’s Gospel anymore.

Think of St. Maximilian Kolbe last week, or St. Lawrence earlier this month, or the martyrs of every age. They could have avoided trouble by being silent. But the fire of Christ burned too deeply in them. They lived Hebrews 12—they kept their eyes on Jesus, even when the finish line was death.

But here’s the question: Do we have that fire?
Or has it died down to a faint ember?

The fire is lit in Baptism—when the Holy Spirit makes us children of God.
It’s strengthened in Confirmation—when we are given the courage to witness to Christ.
It’s fed every time we receive the Eucharist—the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

If we neglect prayer, avoid Confession, or compromise with sin, the fire dims. If we stay close to the sacraments, keep the Commandments, and live the Beatitudes, the fire grows.

We need to be honest: following Christ will cost us something. For some, it may cost friendships. For others, it may mean family members who don’t understand why you go to Mass every Sunday, why you refuse to live together before marriage, why you defend Church teaching online.

This is exactly what Jesus meant by “division.” It’s not that He enjoys conflict. It’s that He will not make peace with sin—and neither can we.

So, how do we keep this fire alive?

Daily Prayer – Not optional. Speak to God, and listen to Him in silence. Begin the day with Him before the world’s noise gets in.

Regular Confession – At least monthly. If you’re in mortal sin, go immediately. Nothing kills the fire faster than unrepented sin.

The Eucharist – Receive Jesus worthily and often. This is the fire of God made present under the appearance of bread and wine.

Scripture – Read the Gospels. Let the Word of God burn in your heart as it did for Jeremiah.

Acts of Courage – Stand for the truth in small things now, so you’ll be ready for bigger tests later.

Here’s the point: Catholicism is not a lukewarm religion.
Jesus is not looking for half-hearted disciples.
He’s looking for men and women who will let the fire of His love burn away sin, ignite holiness, and spread the Gospel—whatever the cost.

The Catholic faith is not an add-on to our life—it’s the centre. Everything else takes its place around it.

Jeremiah stood alone in the mud rather than betray the truth.
The saints ran the race with their eyes fixed on Jesus.
And our Lord says to us today:

“I have come to bring fire to the earth.”

That fire is the Holy Spirit.  It’s already been given to you in Baptism and Confirmation. But only you can decide whether it will blaze—or go out.

So I ask you, as plainly as I can:
Is your life lit with the fire of Christ—or have you settled for the comfortable glow of a dying ember?

Because on the last day, the Lord will not ask how safe we played it—
He will ask whether we let it consume us, transform us, and set the world alight.