{UAH} Advent Day 9 - The Babe Who Throws Down Fire

Advent Day 9 - The Babe Who Throws Down Fire When Jesus enters our world on Christmas, what does he come to do? He tells us himself in the Gospel of Luke: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" Jesus' statement is frightening. The Greek word used is balein ("to throw") a fire on the earth. Jesus is not gently lighting a warm, cozy fire in the fireplace. He's throwing fire down, much like the God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, or who threw fire to consume the enemies of Elijah. How do we make sense of this? How do we link together this harsh and dreadful mission with the meek and gentle Jesus, born a baby in Nazareth? Or the angels on Christmas morning who announce Jesus as the prince of peace? Jesus wants to cast a consuming fire on the earth. Not because he delights in seeing us suffer; rather, he wants to burn away all that is opposed to God's desire for us. He has to clear the ground before something new can be built. Is this utterly painful? Yes! But only when we cooperate with God's grace, letting it burn away every burden of sin that clings to us, are we ready to advance in the spiritual life. "Jesus wants to cast a consuming fire on the earth to burn away all that is opposed to God's desire for us." - Father Robert Barron

Forward this email This email was sent to mugerwas5@aol.com by wof@wordonfire.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Word on Fire | 5215 Old Orchard Road | Suite 410 | Skokie | IL | 60077