Gospel in Art: I came to cast fire on the earth

Yosemite (Forest Fire in Moonlit Landscape) by Jules Tavernier, 1881 © Oakland Museum of California

Source: Christian Art,

Gospel of 17 August 2025
Luke 12:49-53

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five 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.'

Reflection on the painting

The intense heat of Summer can sometimes bring with it the horror of devastating wildfires. We witness this every year: earlier this year the wildfires in Los Angeles, many bushfires in Greece isn recent weeks, Turkey, Cyprus, etc... It takes vast amounts of water and human effort just to contain the flames. Fire is often seen as a force of destruction, capable of claiming lives, homes, and even beloved landmarks. Many of us still recall the haunting images of the fire that swept through Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Though, thankfully, no lives were lost in that particular blaze, the sense of loss was profound. With all this in mind, it's understandable that we might feel unsettled when we hear someone say, "I have come to bring fire to the earth." Yet that's exactly what Jesus declares in today's Gospel.

But as with so many of Jesus' words, this is not meant to be taken literally. The fire He speaks of is not one of destruction, but of transformation: the fire of the Holy Spirit. It is a fire that burns not forests or buildings, but rather the clutter of pride, selfishness, and sin within us, clearing the way for new life to grow. Jesus longed to see the world ablaze with God's love, a love that sets hearts on fire with purpose and compassion. His own heart burned with that very fire for His Father, and He invites us to burn with it too. We often pray, "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love." Perhaps we say those words because we know the flame within us sometimes flickers low... and we long for it to be rekindled. That is what we pray for today, reading our Gospel reading.

Our canvas, painted in 1881 by Jules Tavernier, is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of a forrest fire in Yosemite. Bathed in eerie moonlight, the Yosemite landscape is caught mid-blaze. We see flames raging through the woods, smoke curling into the night sky, and the quiet majesty of the valley rendered both luminous yet threatening. The painting captures the dual nature of fire: its beauty and its devastation. Tavernier, originally from France, came to America as a war correspondent and illustrator. He eventually made his way west, drawn by the promise of the frontier and the sheer spectacle of the American landscape. It was during his travels through California that he encountered Yosemite, whose dramatic terrain deeply inspired him. This canvas reflects not only the grandeur of the national park but also Tavernier's fascination with light and the sublime yet sometimes devastating forces of nature.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-12-49-53-2025/