August 17: The Day of the Lord / El Día del Señor

The words of Jesus in this week’s Gospel (Luke 12, 49-53) sound harsh and seem to be far from "welcoming" to people trying their best to cultivate family life in world that does everything to tear us apart. There is no reason, however, to think that what Jesus describes is what He wants. In fact, it is best to hear His words as a lament. He did not come to cause strife or come with a plan to cause the pain that comes when parents and children find themselves set against each other. Yet, trying to make sure that families stay together by sweeping everything under the rug or by working tirelessly to avoid “ruffling feathers” was not the goal of His life either.

Jesus came with a greater purpose: to create a new family – our Baptismal family. His words carry a great sense of urgency because He wants us to look at what is really happening in our families and in our world and respond with courage, compassion, and humility. He is giving us an invitation, in fact, to imagine and create such a family, where loyalty to Him comes first, no matter what the cost. He is inviting us to stand up for the equality, justice, and reconciliation that every one of us deserves for one great reason – we belong to God’s family of faith. We dare not let anyone tell us otherwise.

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En Lucas 12, 49-53, Jesús emplea lenguaje “expresivo” para urgirnos a responder a sus exigencias. El “fuego” no es la combustión de materiales físicos, sino la destrucción de vicios espirituales. El “Bautismo” no es la inmersión en el agua, sino el trauma de una muerte sangrienta.  

En el Evangelio según San Lucas, más que en los otros, Jesús anticipa su Pasión y muerte. Se da cuenta de que serán el momento de la verdad para el mundo. Al verlo colgando en la Cruz, perdonando y sanando hasta el mero fin, todos tienen que declararse o por Él como su Salvador o en su contra como un fulano. En otras palabras, la Pasión de Jesús pone al mundo en juicio. Todos deben decidir si están con Jesús o en su contra. Estas decisiones dividirán familias, amistades, y comunidades como Jesús predice en la lectura.  

Sería patentemente falso decir que Jesús vino con el deseo a separar familias, amistades, y comunidades. Pero sí vino para enseñar la voluntad de su Padre por palabra y ejemplo. Lo rechazamos a riesgo de perder la vida eterna. Y lo aceptamos en la esperanza de tenerlo como compañero para siempre.