We should have fire in our hearts. On the day of our baptism, we received the light of Christ and were instructed to keep that torch burning brightly until the return of Christ Jesus. Additionally, the Holy Spirit was sent into our hearts at confirmation to help set us on fire. Our Lord Jesus continues to cast fire on the earth, the fire of the Spirit, through the ministry of Word and sacraments. “Christianity is not healthy unless there is room in it for prophetic protest against abuses of authority.”

God continues to send such prophets to every parish community and it is the duty of the Bishop, Pastor and Parish Council to listen to the well-intended and constructive criticisms of such Jeremiahs.

As Christians, we should have fire to inflame people to care, serve, and bless one another with the gifts of faith. We should work with that fire to burn off the impurities in us and to bring out the purity of the gold and silver within us.

We need divine fire to inflame our hearts with the love of God and love for His children. An ‘adult’ faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty.

A mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, and deceit from truth” (Benedict XVI, April 18, 2005). Such a faith will ignite us with the fire of the Holy Spirit and give us the courage of our Christian convictions.