Be Who God Meant You to Be and You Will Set the World on Fire

The Acts of the Apostles tells us how the early church saw itself in relationship to the Holy Spirit. They sought the direction of the Spirit in all they did. When the Spirit did not move them, they waited on Him. Recall the trek across the Sinai desert. "Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the Israelites would set out on their journey. But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward “(Ex. 40: 36-37). With the breath of the Spirit at their backs and the fire of divine love in their hearts, the disciples of the Lord engaged in the task for which they were appointed. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father.

Scripture reminds us that God formed us out of the clay of the earth. He is the potter and we are the work of His hands. We are earthen vessels made to contain a sacred treasure, the fire of divine love. We have only to recall the words of the Emmaus pilgrims, "Were not our hearts burning within us." If you want to discern what God wants you to do, check the fire within you. God has shed His light upon us, we have only to follow the light. By so doing we will come to know the comfort of leaning upon and dialoguing with God. By looking to the Eternal Light we are freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin and misery.

We are children of the light and need to put aside the things of darkness. As such, we are the object of God's love. Recall these words taken from the Letter to the Ephesians: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Eph. 5:8).God desires to enter into a heart-to-heart conversation with each of us. If we willingly enter into this dialogue, He will fan even the smallest spark into a blazing fire. He will then place our earthen vessels on lamp stands for all the walk in the light of life. The more we allow the light of divine love to radiate from within us, the more will the world come to know how to live until the perfect day comes and all the shadows of darkness will flee away. I will close with one of St. Catherine's most famous comments. “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."

--Father Jerome Machar, OSCO