The people of California and Colorado endured the tragedy of fire last year. Seeing people returning home and finding nothing but ashes grips my heart. I remember driving through Washington, Illinois, after a tornado. People were walking up to a slab, seeing if there was anything to salvage. Tears filled my eyes, and I had a lump in my throat.
Isn’t it interesting that John the Baptist said that we would be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire? Why equate the Holy Spirit with fire? It is so destructive. Precisely, and that is the point. The word "purification" comes to mind.
Notice what the apostles saw on their heads at Pentecost, tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit "burned to ashes" how the disciples saw and related to Jesus and each other. He was no longer ‘a’ Teacher, ‘a’ prophet, even God’s Son. He became ‘their’ Teacher, ‘their’ Son of God and LORD.
Do you relate to Jesus in a personal way in prayer? Do you often think about Jesus present in your family and people you meet daily? What needs to be purified in your meaningful relationships? Take to heart the words of absolution in the Sacrament of Confession, "God the Father…has sent His Holy among us for the forgiveness of sin." Go to Jesus in the Sacrament and let Him IGNITE THE FIRE in you.
March 27, 2026 – John 10:31-42https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032726.cfm Getting to Know My Father It isn’t hard for me to appreciate what parents experience in the morning, noon,
April 10, 2025, Genesis 3:17:3-9; John 8:51-59https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032626.cfm The Greatest Miracle of All.Today’s readings revealed different ways people react to God.When Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was told
March 25, 2026, Luke 1:26-38 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032526.cfm “Yes” Three simple letters form a word that has changed the direction of the world, and that small word
March 24, 2026, John 8:21-30 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032426.cfm All I Want is to Please You, Father. We can learn a lot from children. They get excited when
Monday Baptism of the Lord– 01-09-2023
Fr. Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Monday Baptism of the Lord– 01-09-2023
Baptism of the Lord 1st Week in Ordinary Time
Matthew 3:13-17 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010923.cfm
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.
The people of California and Colorado endured the tragedy of fire last year. Seeing people returning home and finding nothing but ashes grips my heart. I remember driving through Washington, Illinois, after a tornado. People were walking up to a slab, seeing if there was anything to salvage. Tears filled my eyes, and I had a lump in my throat.
Isn’t it interesting that John the Baptist said that we would be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire? Why equate the Holy Spirit with fire? It is so destructive. Precisely, and that is the point. The word "purification" comes to mind.
Notice what the apostles saw on their heads at Pentecost, tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit "burned to ashes" how the disciples saw and related to Jesus and each other. He was no longer ‘a’ Teacher, ‘a’ prophet, even God’s Son. He became ‘their’ Teacher, ‘their’ Son of God and LORD.
Do you relate to Jesus in a personal way in prayer? Do you often think about Jesus present in your family and people you meet daily? What needs to be purified in your meaningful relationships? Take to heart the words of absolution in the Sacrament of Confession, "God the Father…has sent His Holy among us for the forgiveness of sin." Go to Jesus in the Sacrament and let Him IGNITE THE FIRE in you.
IGNITE THE FIRE
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com
or .
Share:
More Posts
Father Rick’s One Minute Homily for Friday, the 5th Week in Lent
March 27, 2026 – John 10:31-42https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032726.cfm Getting to Know My Father It isn’t hard for me to appreciate what parents experience in the morning, noon,
Father Rick’s Two Minute Homily for Thursday, the 5th Week in Lent
April 10, 2025, Genesis 3:17:3-9; John 8:51-59https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032626.cfm The Greatest Miracle of All.Today’s readings revealed different ways people react to God.When Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was told
Father Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
March 25, 2026, Luke 1:26-38 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032526.cfm “Yes” Three simple letters form a word that has changed the direction of the world, and that small word
Father Rick’s One Minute Homily for Tuesday, the 5th Week in Lent
March 24, 2026, John 8:21-30 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032426.cfm All I Want is to Please You, Father. We can learn a lot from children. They get excited when
Categories
Send Us A Message