Jesus Wants Each of Us To Be Ablaze
Two weeks ago, as I packed for vacation, I wanted to bring books.
I love reading and used to do it all the time. Then life got busier and busier. I stopped reading almost completely. I read books I have to read for my work or for classes I take. So, what books shall I bring?
I had been reading The Rocking Chair Prophet by Mattew Kelly.
I brought that one.
I have books that belonged to one of my grandmothers that I asked to have when she died. It’s been years now and I’ve never read them.
Which one though?
I asked Jesus to let me grab the one He wanted me to read, then just let my hand fall on one and took it.
Such Love is Seldom is the title. Its copyright date is 1950.
It is a biography of Mother Mary Walsh, O.P.
The rediscovery of sitting and reading was amazing.
The Rocking Chair Prophet was very good. After I finished reading it, I put it on the shelf of books in the VRBO place I was staying in with a prayer that someone would discover it while on their vacation and read it. (Right next to all the romance novels!)
I’m 100 pages into Such Love is Seldom and find myself so inspired by this holy lady. Sister Mary’s personal relationship with Jesus enabled her to persevere through so much.
She kept her focus on Him, accepting suffering by feeling honored to connect it to Jesus carrying the cross and being crucified.
She prayed, “Thy will be done” surrendering herself to Jesus’ care all the time.
Sister Mary worked to care for the sick poor of New York in amazing ways.
I look forward to finishing the book.
Both books have fanned the flames of the Fire of the Holy Spirit in me!
I just read this coming Sunday’s Mass readings and look at the first sentence of the Gospel:
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! Luke 12:49
Jesus wants each of us to be ablaze with the Fire of the Holy Spirit.
Think about fire, literally.
It’s hot, not lukewarm.
It’s bright.
It causes you to move.
Like The Rocking Chair Prophet book story described, I want to be fully present in each moment and really live life, not just survive the busyness of it.
And like Sister Mary in Such Love is Seldom, I want to persevere in all God calls me to do by keeping close to Him and lovingly praying, “Thy will be done.”
I hope you experience a book, a song, or an encounter with a person this week that fans the Fire of the Holy Spirit within you.
Blessings of fanning the flame!
SAVE THE DATE!
Did you know that God has given each of us specific charisms?
Do you know what yours are?
Called & Gifted is coming September 6th & 7th!
Don’t miss out on this experience to discover the charisms God gives each of us and what your specific ones are.
