Is the fire lit ? (5)

Tuesday 15 June 2021

Is the fire lit ? (5)

Acts 28.2 - The barbarians showed us an unusual kindness ; they took us all to a large fire, which they had lit because the rain was falling and it was freezing cold.

Fire has another positive aspect : that of heating. This icy world can only be attracted to Christianity if it is hot and enthusiastic. This world doesn't need a religion, it is sorely lacking in love, and it needs a "warm" relationship, as a friend would say.

Christ told us that all will know that we are his disciples because of the love that will animate us (John 13:35). He also said that in the last days the love of the greater number will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Is the fire of our community love still warming this world ? We are sad to see that in many places this is no longer the case.

This should motivate our search for the fire of the Holy Spirit, not just for ourselves, but also to be a blessing for all those who are lost. To come back to our basic text, it is benevolence, an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, that will drive this desire to warm others. This search for the good of others will free us from the spirit of dispute, quarrels, divisions, rivalries... which animate the Christian community. If "barbarians" were able to do it, all the more so, God's children, filled with God's love, will be able to do it too !

My beloved, when we talk about warming this world, we are not only talking about evangelization but we are talking about loving, helping, helping, loving... those who do not yet know our great Lord of love.

Good reflection.

Source (Ezekiel 37 Ministries)