May 9, 2005

It was a snowy, cold winter's day in upstate New York (near Ellenville), but I had a good fire going in the wood stove in the little hermitage. It was actually a little too warm inside, so I took out the log I had just thrown in that had barely caught fire and was only emitting a little wisp of smoke. Nonetheless, I didn't want the smoke inside so I put the log outside on the snowy porch.

I didn't think much about it until about an hour later when I heard a strange "thud" outside and went to see what kind of critter was making the noise. As I looked out the window I was shocked to see flames beneath me! The log had burnt a hole right through the porch and fire was moving up the wall! Thanks be to God I had enough water and snow around to put out the flames before the whole thing burnt down. I spent a good chunk of that hermitage day repairing the porch and was so embarrassed about it that I didn't tell the friars until a couple of years later.

So why am I telling you about it? Many times since then the imagery of that log catching fire has come back to me, especially each year when we prepare to celebrate Pentecost. I only observed a little wisp of smoke when I put it out on that cold, snowy porch. What I hadn't noticed was that there was a steady breeze blowing outside that was responsible for fanning into flames that little log. This is for me a very clear (even if embarrassing) analogy of the invisible presence of the Holy Spirit, especially in the Sacraments, steadily helping us to be turned into furnaces of Divine love, and to "catch on fire" those around us as well, as chilled as the world around us may sometimes seem to be. His presence is truly Personal and life-giving and enables us to go far beyond our own strength.

"Breath on us, O Breath of God, fill us with life anew; that we would love the things You love and do what You would do."

Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR
Community Vicar, residing at St. Joseph Friary in Harlem, New York

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