When was the last time you tried to build a fire? There is a lot that goes into the success of such a project. Whatever is used for kindling must be flammable, dry, and the right size. You need a protected space in which to build the fire, that will allow it to catch and then grow. Oxygen is necessary, but the quantity has to be proportionate. In order for a baby fire to become a strong blaze, capable of producing heat and light, it needs to be carefully attended until it is well established. If you are trying to build your fire on a damp, misty day, you will discover that flames are sensitive to the quality of the surrounding air. That was what I found out last year.

In my enthusiasm to provide our small girls camp with meals cooked over a firepit, I didnt put a lot of thought into a contingency plan, in the event of rainy weather. And, sure enough, we had rainy weather actually, it was only drizzly and wet, no full-blown rain drops, for the most part. It was just tolerable enough for me to pursue my goal of campfire cooking, which, thankfully, didnt end up being impossible only really challenging.

Thursday I spent most of the day trying to get the baby flame to eat its food so that it could grow to be big and strong. The little flicker was not eager to cooperate. It wanted the kindling to be chopped up into very small pieces before trying to eat it (with zero concern for my lack of an ax). Even then, the heavy moisture in the air that day was such a problem that I practically had to build a shelter over the small flame before it could concentrate on consuming fuel. Hours were spent on this kindling project, but eventually, with patience and perseverance (and after a couple of close shaves with asphyxiation from smoke), the fire began to burn in earnest, and I was able to cook dinner over it. That was Thursday.

On Friday morning, the weather did not look too much better. But, before rolling up my sleeves to tackle the breakfast fire, we took the girls to Mass for the feast of the Sacred Heart. As I was preparing myself for the Holy Sacrifice, reading through the antiphons of First Vespers, I was surprised by these words at the Magnificat: I am come to cast fire upon earth, and what will I, but that it be kindled? Our Lord seemed to be speaking directly to me. Naturally, after the ordeal with kindling a fire the day before, I was perfectly primed to take this message to heart. Two questions presented themselves, front and center: What was the fire that Our Lord was referring to? And how does one go about kindling it?

Regarding the first question, the use of the above mentioned antiphon for the feast of the Sacred Heart suggested to me that Our Lord was talking about the fire of His love. When the theological virtue of charity is infused at Baptism, it elevates the heart of man to a whole new order of love, making him capable of loving God (and then his neighbor for Gods sake) with Gods own love. And it makes perfect sense for Our Lord to call this love fire: I am come to cast fire upon earth. His sanctifying love gives light and heat, consumes all things, and spreads as fire does. He wants the fire of His love to burn in us. It is not something merely to be studied objectively or acknowledged logically; we are meant to feel it and be moved by it. Dom Gueranger puts it this way: The heart of a Christian is not made to be cold or indifferent; it must be affectionate and devoted; otherwise it can never attain the perfection for which God, who is love, has graciously created it. (The Liturgical Year, vol. IX, pg. 356)

The second question was actually a whole series of questions relating back to the previous days firepit adventure. How does Dear Jesus want me to kindle the fire of His love? What things will feed this precious fire of charity? What does it need to be sheltered from and sheltered by? Is there any dampness present, working against the growth of this flame?

The rest of Friday was spend meditating on these things as I went about kindling the material fire in front of me. There were thoughts on how knowledge fuels love, and how in order to love God more, we must get to know Him better (at which I point I distinctly heard Deborah Kerrs voice in my head singing, Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. . .). Certainly, I had many ideas on how to learn more about God, how to dispose myself to His gift of faith: reading the lives of saints, studying in the school of nature, watching Him in the Gospels and mysteries of the rosary, to name only a few. Then, too, I saw how a love of temporal things can draw our hearts away from eternal things. Worldly treasures, honors, comforts, and conveniences can be so many mists, threatening to extinguish the fires of charity. And yet it is not the world that is the problem, but the love of the world, when that love is out of right order. Our affections and delights can and must be directed. It is not enough for us to deprive ourselves of worldly pleasures as we look after them with longing. We must strive to enkindle a desire for the infinitely greater goods of eternity with energy and determination.

At the same time, its essential to remember that it is God alone Who actually has the wisdom and power to inflame our hearts. Enkindle in us the fire of Thy love! He invites us to participate in this work, in the same way a mother might allow a toddler to help her make dinner.

All these were merely my considerations. But there is so much more to be gained from your own meditation on the subject. Particular lights that God wants to give you, specifically. I highly recommend taking a little time to build a fire, if the local burning regulations allow it. Ask Our Lord to come and join you as you consider His words: I am come to cast a fire upon earth, and what will I, but that it be kindled? You can have the meditation be as structured or spontaneous as you like. Some might find it helpful to use all of the who, what, where, when, why and how questions to jumpstart the conversation with Our Lord, others may not. The real point is to ask Dear Jesus to grant you a deeper appreciation and understanding of His holy love, to show you the connections between feeding natural flames and fostering supernatural charity. What better way to delight and repair the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so wounded by coldness? What better way to dispose ourselves to receive the rich treasures of His tender Heart, which He so dearly wants to give us?

Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, have mercy on us!

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Originally posted here:

Feeding the Fire: A June Meditation - Catholicism.org