Becoming Fire

“I am come to cast fire on the earth.” (Luke 12:49)

On that first Pentecost, Jesus appeared to his disciples and bestowed on them the Holy Spirit. And flames appeared on each of the disciple’s heads. The symbol of fire sent them forth to spread Christ’s love around the world.

Jesus wanted them to become fire -- to ignite, to enflame the hearts of all people. Fire is a symbol of love, an all-embracing love. We have to have “fire in our bellies” to spread the Spirit’s love across the earth. Just as a small match can start a fire, so also our small efforts can spread our love to people everywhere.

We are living in dark times. Wars and greed have made our world a dangerous place to live. Environmental abuse has caused our water and air to be polluted, our earth to be poisoned. Immigrants are being mistreated or barred at our borders. Guns are killing innocent people. We definitely need the fire of Christ’s Spirit to enflame our hearts and spread the Good News.

Pope Francis speaks often of love, a love that is all-embracing and all-inclusive. He speaks of welcoming immigrants. He has washed the feet of prisoners. He is very concerned about ecological measures to preserve our planet expressed extensively in his Laudato Si encyclical. He reaches out to the poor wherever he goes.

Becoming fire is no easy endeavor. Many of us tend to be dying embers instead of ignited flames. But embers can be fanned into flames. As Sister Helga Leija reminded us in her homily for Pentecost, we must use our fire “to solder together what others have broken. Never be afraid of the fire you carry within!”

Barbara Mayer, OSB