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Commentary on the Gospel of September 30, 2025
Saint Jerome
Fire!
After a summer of terrifying wildfires in Spain, the last thing we might want to hear is this word. In today’s Gospel, the disciples ask if they should call down fire to destroy their enemies. Honestly, that proposal can sound tempting in difficult political times… or even in daily situations of family fights or neighborhood conflicts. It would be so easy to strike back at those who annoy us. What is harder is to stay calm and keep walking forward without letting those attacks paralyze us. After all, revenge never truly solves a conflict; at best it leads to a bitter peace, ready to explode at any moment.
They say that Saint Jerome, whose feast we celebrate today, had a strong—even harsh—character. He was a man of fire, full of passion for the Word of Christ. But he was not known for physical violence. Instead, he left us the great treasure of access to Scripture, reminding us that to ignore Scripture is to ignore Christ. And the Christ we see today—rejected, not welcomed, not recognized—does not call for fire to burn the enemy, but for a fire that makes the heart burn with charity and spread peace. For the real decision is “to go to Jerusalem.” To keep walking firmly toward the city of God, no matter what happens or what the circumstances may be. To hold on to peace, not resorting to revengeful fire, but staying on the path where God calls us.
To be firm and gentle at the same time often requires a delicate balance. Evil, foolishness, corruption, and injustice around us irritate and frustrate us—and surely Jerome roared against them. But the fire must be directed toward continuing God’s work. Jesus rebukes his disciples simply for asking that question. And he gives us all a “stop sign” to keep us from falling into revenge, violence, or paralysis. The call is to keep moving forward in goodness, with the determination of Christ, who set his face toward Jerusalem, the house of God.