Faith on Fire: Set the World Ablaze
- Feast of the North American Martyrs: Saint John de Brébeuf, Saint Isaac Jogues, and their companions. "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church."
- Year of Faith: "I have come to cast fire on the earth; would that it were kindled already!"
Were not our hearts burning within us?
Zeal
Women Aglow
People are attracted to firelight
Candlelight--romantic affection
Candles on the altar
Vigil light
Easter candle: blessed fire
Halos
The sun is a burning fire
He will baptize with fire
Judge the earth with fire
Tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost
A soldier's baptism by fire: first day in battle.
"I have come to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were kindled already!"
Year of Faith: 50th Anniversary of Vatican II
Sacrament of Confirmation
Fires of Purgatory: junk fire, garbage fire, smelting, purifying
Fires of Hell
Light on a mountainside
Lantern held high
Warmth, cooking, beauty, cleansing
Indoor fire: fire-place, hearth
"Keep the home fires burning."
We must add fuel to the fire.
Kindling goes up quickly; big logs burn slowly all night long.
Embers left in the morning can start the new day's fire.
Fire of Pentecost: burning deep underground, like Centralia.
Fire can burn out of control, and yet we know how to contain it.
Fire is a power-tool. There is nothing like a blowtorch when you need to melt lead!
Melts metal
Consumes wood
Boils water
Cooks food
Fire of the Holy Spirit
set the world on fire
forest fire: "Only you can prevent Forest Fires."
The fields are ripe for harvest--ripe to be set on fire.
Paradox: the world is starving for God's love, but refuses to eat what is set before it.
Dozens, if not hundreds of fires at the farm: the barn, two outhouses, fallen trees, furniture ...
Bonfire of the vanities
Gina: anchorite, vigil light, hidden away in Studio A
"It only takes a spark to get a fire burning."
Matches, lighters, boy-scout-water vs. survival shows.
Failures to light fires: failed 2nd class test; camping in the cold.
Building fires for the family: ritual, sacramentality
Disposing of sacramentals and American flags reverently
Burning the "cursed notebook" for George
Judgment by Fire
Water made by God, I purge you, too, of evil,
in the name of God the Father almighty,
in the name of Jesus Christ His Son our Lord,
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Become now water blessed to banish all power of the enemy,
and to conquer and dispel that enemy himself with his fallen angels,
by the power of the same Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall come to judge the living and the dead
and the world by fire.