“‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”  (Luke 12:49-53)  Gentle Jesus, meek and mild; or so we were told!  The only way to think that Jesus was a “go along, get along” sort of person is never to read the New Testament.  There, we find quite a different fellow.  There we meet the real Jesus, who is so passionately in love with his broken brothers and sisters that he burns with the desire to throw all of creation on its head.  I think that we sometimes like to kid ourselves into believing that all you and I need is a little help; a spoonful of grace to aid us in our already (for the most part) righteous journeys toward a better tomorrow.  But from time-to-time and place-to-place we also have moments of clarity (again, aided by grace) when we realize that we need a far greater solution than simply a little help.  We need a Savior who is willing to divide us from our sin and refine all our relationships with his passionately burning love, which is eternal.  From what, from whom are you willing to be divided this week in order that you might more fully participate in God’s great love for our sad, broken world?  It is no coincidence that when the Holy Spirit came, the initial sign was a burning flame.  The world still needs to know our Lord’s passionate love.  To whom is he calling you to share it?  Have a great week!