Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Joan Sobala
“While we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.” Hebrews 12.2
Opening Prayer
At this time of year when we try to enjoy more relaxation, I pray You, Gracious God, that I might not be distracted from keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus. I know He is the constant companion of my coming and going. Let me be more aware of the fire He enkindles in us each moment of each day. Tender God, help me to recognize His face everywhere as I make my way through this week. Amen.
Reflection
In tomorrow’s gospel, Jesus tells us that He comes to set fire on the earth. He wants it to blaze. We know about fires on the earth: over 700 fires scorching the forests of Canada, sending lung- clogging haze our way. We know that in our own country, the nightly newscasts report fires in the far west and mountain states. We’ve even had them in our state.
But this is not the fire that Jesus means. He calls for the fire of love of God and the dear neighbor, burning within us, causing up to step out of our comfort zones and step into the places where complacency, ennui and unawareness have taken hold of our society and us. There the fire Jesus calls for needs to burn. Burn so that people can see hope overcoming despair. The fire that is in the lovers of Jesus is capable of leaping, as fire does, from the ardent to those who are only awakening.
Is the fire that Jesus came to bring in us? Do we share it broadly, with conviction?
Let us go wherever the fire of Christ calls us, welcomes us to be.
Closing Prayer
Creator God, as we learn to relish the endless gifts of Your Son, help us to take into our hearts and minds all He offers us by His example. Help us be ready to continue our summer journey with attentiveness to Christ’s presence and action in our midst, so that we can grow closer to You whose only desire is for the good of all creation. We ask this through the Holy Spirit who brought fire to the disciples on Pentecost and to us today Amen.
