The Fire Within

St. Catherine of Siena writes in one of her letters: I long to see you so totally ablaze with loving fire that you become one with gentle First truth. Truly the soul's being united with and transformed into him is like fire consuming the dampness in logs. Once the logs are heated through and through, the fire burns and changes them into itself, giving them its own color and warmth and power." Letter T137

Passionate love for God comes with years of listening and loving. It seeps into the soul gradually, as knowledge and acceptance of God's plan becomes routine and habitual. We are so concentrated on God and the things of God that we truly are unaware of how this fire is taking hold of us. Others see it, and such fire becomes the living sign of God in our midst.

Our service of God takes place in the same little ways human loves develops. First we must get to know Him better, through meditation, Lectio, study. That knowledge does not enkindle fire until we begin to formulate our lives on what we know, making the hard decisions when they come simple because it is the right thing to do. It is a step by step process, one where failure can actually deepen our sense of commitment and dedication.