Commentary on the Gospel of
Being on Fire
St. Anthony Mary Claret, founder of the congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart (Claretians), gave a definition that he wanted his spiritual sons to grow into. It begins thus: “A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with charity who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set everyone on fire with God’s love….” This is the kind of fire that Jesus longs to ignite the world with. And this fire produces two results: it sets us afire with love for God and charity for our fellow human beings. This fire is possible only when we understand “the width, the length, the height, and the depth” of the love Christ has for us, as Paul reminds the Ephesians. As and when that happens, God becomes our priority, over and above all human relations. This understanding and fire are not of our making; it is the gift of the Spirit, for which we must incessantly pray.
