Today’s Readings:
Romans 6:19-23
Psalm 1:1-4,6
Luke 12:49-53
Jesus says, ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!’
(Luke 12:49)
What does He mean?
In the Scriptures, fire symbolises God's presence, the purifying power of grace and the love of God which is present in everyone who believes. Jesus’ words are, therefore, a declaration of his desire for you and me—that we may be ablaze with God’s holy presence. Some people are described as being “firebrand Christians”. In truth, every Christian should be a firebrand.
Remember God’s word in the Book of Revelation concerning the state of every true Christian: “But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!” (3:16). The default state of a true Christian is that we are always united with our God and permeated by His grace, just like fish in water. We also resemble him, like a child of his or her parents. We are purified by his love just like gold is purified in fire and a log of wood becomes incandescent when it is completely engulfed in flames. By such an intimate connection, our sole purpose and desire is to see God’s will done on earth. When God's love reigns in us, we stand up against evil and injustice and become vocal about corruption in its many forms and designs. Since we are not usually so disposed, Jesus’ desire is a call-out to us today.
Jesus’ desire for intimacy with us comes with certain demands:
Make the Holy Spirit your best friend.
Admit your weaknesses to yourself and ask God to deliver you from them.
You must reveal yourself completely to the fire of the Holy Spirit. What is not revealed cannot be healed.
Take steps daily to distance yourself from persons, places and things that are occasions of sin.
You must put your whole being at the service of righteousness for your salvation.
Dissociate yourself from any agenda that is harmful to you and to the spiritual life of others.
Never be found in the company of persons who have neither love nor respect for God.
Walk away from privileges and pleasures which are opposed to your relationship with God so that you will not compromise your faith in Christ.
Flee from people who flaunt sin as a badge of honour (they are the enemy).
Journey along with persons who desire your goodness and salvation.
As you draw closer to God, certain relationships will naturally come to an end. It is perfectly normal. And it is pleasing unto God.
If you wish to follow God, prepare for a barrage of temptations against purity, truth, humility and faithfulness.
Saint Paul prays, in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “May your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes.” He affirms that a human person is made up of a physical body, an immaterial soul and the presence of the Spirit which is the soul's life.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
Prayer:
May the presence and power of the Holy Spirit purify your heart and soul and cause you to do what pleases God today and earn you His blessings. Amen.
Come, O Holy Spirit, and fill my heart. Light up in me the fire of your love. Recreate my mind with wisdom, adorn my body with grace and renew my spirit with your reassuring hope and peace. Amen.
Lord, open my ears and fill me with the manifold presence of the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit who enlightens every mind and infuses love into every heart descend on me today and remain forever. Amen.
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