Be fervent in spirit . . . Romans 12:11
Autumn’s colorful array of changing leaves turns into winter’s barren bleakness, a symbol of what so often happens to our spirits. We live a spiritual rhythm of ups and downs, fullness and barrenness, blossom and decay. The downs pave the way for the ups, the barrenness creates the possibility of refilling, the times of decay fertilize the new blossoms in our life.
A few months ago I came across this definition of prayer in Teresa of Avila—God Alone Suffices: “To pray is to think of Jesus while loving him.” It was as if a match had been struck within me, and those simple words ignited my brittle spirit into an ardent fire that burned away bad habits and replaced them with a yearning for holiness. The Holy Spirit ignites these spiritual fires within us that make us long for more.
Paul knew this because the Spirit had transformed his ways of thinking, acting and loving, making him a new creature in Christ. So keep your eyes open. The Spirit will use something in your everyday, ordinary experience to ignite your spirit and set your heart aflame.
Holy Spirit, stir up the ashes and relight my inner fire.
Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, F.S.P.
Originally published November 6, 2007
