In the lead-up to the Olympic Games held in London last year, a flame was kindled at Olympia, the site of the original games in ancient Greece. This flame was then transported to Britain where it was carried in a relay, which brought that flame within 10 miles of every inhabitant of the UK, before being brought into the Olympic Stadium to ignite the cauldron that was kept burning throughout the games. In ancient times the flame was an act of homage to Zeus, the chief of the gods, in whose honor the games were held. Still today, the carrying of the flame and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron has an almost sacred significance. People have a sense of being drawn together in the celebration of what is best in human endeavor, reaching the pinnacle of physical achievements. People of faith recognize that such possibilities are a sign of divine blessing, and see human achievement as giving praise to God who has inspired us.
In the Gospel today, Jesus expresses a longing to bring fire to the earth and wishes that it were burning already. The fire that Jesus wants to see blazing in the world is the fire of God’s love enlightening and warming the hearts of all people. Jesus is speaking to men and women who are used to hearing of fire as a sign of the presence of God. They think of the fire that consumed the sacrifice of Elijah in his great battle with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. And now, we think of the flames that came down on the apostles at Pentecost as a visible sign of the Holy Spirit touching and filling their lives. In order to bring light and heat to our world, fire has to destroy whatever it burns. Wax, oil, wood are all converted into energy that gives us light and warmth, and in the process they are destroyed. Fire, therefore, carries this double symbolism. If our hearts are to be filled with the light and love of God’s Holy Spirit, something has to give: that is, our selfishness and sin. Jesus realizes the struggle that this will cause it. He longs for unity and harmony among His disciples, but knows that His teaching will bring division. Because sin and selfishness are so deeply rooted in the human condition, even the closest relationships will be affected.
So what’s going to light your fire? Last year at the Olympic Games, we were amazed at the dedication and application that is necessary even to qualify for the games. Years of self-denial and commitment to gruelling training schedules are the price that athletes are prepared to pay even for the chance to complete for a medal. They consider this to be a price worth paying. But God offers us something more. Jesus shows us a way that enables us to go beyond anything that we can achieve on our own, to overcome even death to achieve eternal life. Are we up for this ultimate challenge? It is not a once-every-four-years effort. It is our whole life is all about, being prepared to let go of everything else, if only we can win prize for which we all long, eternal glory with Chirst in heaven.