Breaking the Word

"I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." (Lk 12:49-53)

Jesus the prince of peace and who came into the world to bring peace throws into the mind of the people a crisis situation. He presents himself as the prince of division.  The message of Jesus is going to split families. The warning about  division in the family seems a quotation from Micah 7:6.(For the son dishonors his father, the daughter rises up against her mother, The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies are those of his household.) The imminent crisis proposes ‘complete trust in God’ as the only way out.

The crisis which Jesus is talking about, and that which is fast approaching, is going to challenge him personally. Jesus himself will have to face it. He will be the centre of that crisis. That is the baptism with which he has to be baptized. Jesus wants to go towards this challenge and he is ready to face it himself.

The division that is happening at this time is due to the crisis that is round the corner. People are challenged with a decision. A decision which that have to make. Choice is left to them. They have to be like Jesus and be ready to face the crisis or succumb to it. At this the families get divided and people become groups. Choice is whether they are for the kingdom of God or for the world.

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more (Lk 12:39-48)

“Is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” This is an interesting question. Peter himself questions Jesus. He represents the vast majority of the society at the time of Jesus and of course our own times. Pharisees and the leaders always thought that they were right and no message could be given to them. They could not be corrected and also they could not be taught. Preaching and parables are always for someone else.

Fidelity is always and at all times. Fidelity is not for the eye of the person. That is to say that not as long as the person is there or the person is watching one should be faithful. Fidelity is to the duty or the mission. There are many who are faithful to the eyes of the others or the leaders and this will not receive any reward for Jesus. Fidelity only to the eye of the person will be punished.

Those who are faithful will be trusted more and be entrusted with much more. This also implies that fidelity not some thing which is reached once and for all. It is something that evolves develops and grows. One should grow in fidelity. Fidelity in single and simple things will make one to grow in being faithful to greater things.