Our Gospel has instructed us, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Likewise the Letter to the Hebrews tells us, “Our God is a consuming fire.” It is the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states, “As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power.”
One of the symbols for the Holy Spirit is fire. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles as fire. Fire is something that is powerful. It is able to take control to the point that everything it touches is consumed by this fire. It is said that the Holy Spirit is the Fire of Divine Love.
As the prayer to the Holy Spirit states, “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.”
This word, kindle, means too “start a fire.” This flame is that of the Holy Spirit and the love that is sent forth upon us. The love of the Spirit is a love which is found to be both unconditional and generous beyond measure. This is the love that we are being invited to enter into. This is the love that we are being invited to bring into the world and live.
We must be open to the gift of the Holy Spirit and allow this gift to kindle such a love within us. We must allow the Holy Spirit to enter into our life in order that this love may be set on fire for us. Once this love has been kindled it will grow rapidly and it will set the world on fire in a transformative way.
Therefore, we must find ways for the Holy Spirit to enter into our life, our families, and our parish community in order that this spark that made may set the whole earth blazing. In our reflection we should ask what obstacles do we place in the way of this transformative love. We must reflect how we can better be kindled in order that we may be found receptive of God’s love.
Remember that the fire of the Holy Spirit is blazing. So to ought our life, our family, and our parish community should be found blazing for the Lord. Let us be that spark which kindles this love to spread throughout the world.
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
