Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”

The noun radical comes from the Latin radix “root,” and in fact, radical and root are synonymous as technical terms in linguistics. In more everyday language, a radical is someone who has very extreme views, so one could say that their views are different from the root up. Similarly, a radical idea is very new and innovative.

In the true sense of the word, Jesus can be considered a “radical” person. His words go straight to the human heart, to the “roots” of people’s being. He exposes the hypocrisy of those who want to appear righteous. Even his detractors admit that he is a truthful man who is not concerned with anyone’s opinion (Mk 12:14). He calls a spade a spade, saying the truth about something even if it is not pleasant.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that he has come to establish, not peace on earth, but division. He has come to set the earth on fire. The Word of God that he preaches is like a sword that cuts, a fire that burns and purifies. It confronts people unto taking decisions.

Jesus breaks the false peace of indifference, superficiality, and compromise that would place God in the same level with idols, love in the same level with egoism. He wants people to choose the Gospel despite the cost. Jesus himself is ready to pay the cost of his total dedication to his mission.

To obtain the highest good—the salvation of men and women—he will pay the highest price: his own life. He then asks his disciples the same price: their total dedication to him, even at the cost of division among family members.

Likewise, a Christian is invited to be “radical” and light the divine fire in the world. One cannot remain uncommitted before the manifestations of evil surrounding him. He may stand alone at first, but if he ignites the flame, he will kindle other flames which can turn into a big blaze.

As American politician Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.”