Jesus' Wish
“Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49)
“Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49)
Did you hear that? In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus made a wish. When I read it, my heart leaped! I'm his disciple. I would love to grant Jesus’ wish! But…for what, exactly, is Jesus wishing?
“…[A]nd how I wish it were already blazing!”
Jesus longs for the day when the fire of his love will fully ignite the hearts of all people who hear his message. And he wishes that, collectively, those fires will be fanned into flames that spread like an uncontrolled blazing forest fire throughout the whole earth.
He uses powerful imagery of a raging, uncontrollable fire to convey the intensity by which his message and knowledge of his redemptive acts will impact the world. He also stresses the urgency with which the message needs to spread. He wishes that every disciple would take the torch placed by the Holy Spirit at baptism… and run wildly with it, igniting everyone he or she encounters.
Fire is catching!
Let’s grant Jesus’ wish! Let us ask the Holy Spirit to vehemently fan the flame of his love inside of us. Let us answer his wish to actively participate in his mission, sharing the Good News with others and striving to create a world that brightly reflects the kingdom of God where justice and peace reign supreme.
As his disciple, do I desire to grant Jesus’ wish?
Lord Jesus, give me the grace, the courage, and the passion to actively participate in your mission by living a life of faithful discipleship and lovingly sharing your message with those I encounter today. Amen.
Charmaine Carter, MD is a retired physician, now serving as the Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. She became Catholic 16 years ago along with her husband Deacon John Carter and their 3 children. She holds a Master of Theology from Saint Leo University, and she is a Spiritual Director, having trained at the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality. On any given day, you will find her studying and/or teaching Sacred Scriptures, which are her passions.