A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
Sunday can be a good time to check on your "zeal" factor. I was reminded of this by something I read about the zeal of converts that included a reminder that all Catholics should foster the zeal of conversion. And, for some reason, the idea of fostering the zeal of conversion brought fireplaces to mind.
That was kind of odd because, as one born, raised, and still living in a city - a "city rat" as we sometimes refer to ourselves - my experience with authentic fireplaces has been limited. I'm not talking about those fireplaces you typically encounter these days: You know, the ones enclosed in glass, where you flip a switch, and - voila! - fire. It looks like a wood-burning fire place because there are objects that look like wood logs. Of course, they're some sort of artificial creation, since the fire is fueled not by wood, but by gas.
But from time to time, I've been a guest in houses with real fire places, where you need real wood - lots of it. I've seen how kindling is used to start the fire, and how logs are added, slowly and steadily, until the flame takes on a life of its own. Of course, if left to its own devices, that flame begins to wane. The wood, having been consumed, no longer provides the needed fuel. So, unless you want the flame to die, logs are added from time to time. I've even added such logs (admittedly nervously, city rat that I am) and saw how the fire can be sustained as long as the wood fuels it.
While I'd likely not want to have a fireplace in my own home, I did enjoy my brief encounters in the past.
But more than the enjoyment of real fireplaces, these exotic (at least to a city rat) sources of light and heat can teach us something about zeal and our Catholic Faith. We know that we ought to live our faith with zeal. But, like the fireplace, we've got to add more wood from time to time to keep the flame burning. Those of us who at some point in our lives managed to let the fire go out can provide special witness to this. As one of those unfortunates, I remember the rather long, drawn-out process of re-igniting and fanning that flame of faith. The kindling consisted of going to confession, regularly attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion. Over time, saying the rosary, studying my religion, reading good spiritual works, etc. provided "spiritual wood" to keep the flames burning.
And as with real fireplaces, any old wood won't do. The best wood for a fireplace is "seasoned" to remove some of the water content. You can use use wet wood, but it wont' burn efficiently, creates smoke, and gums up your chimney. Seasoned wood burns cleaner and hotter. You season wood by cutting, splitting, stacking the wood and letting it stand in the sun. I might take six months to a year before its ready for the fireplace.
Our "spiritual wood" needs seasoning too. Dragging yourself to Sunday Mass, thoughtlessly mouthing prayers, scanning the Catechism, plowing through Scripture to cover as much ground as possible, and mindlessly skimming spiritual works would be like using wet wood. We need to give quality time and attention to these. Most of all, though, we need be sure that time and attention centers around the two "Great Commandments": 1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength; 2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
If we keep Sunday, the Lord's Day, holy, we can find the time to fuel the fire of our love and to be sure we season our spiritual wood. Excuse me now while I put a few more logs on my own fireplace.
Happy Sunday!
That was kind of odd because, as one born, raised, and still living in a city - a "city rat" as we sometimes refer to ourselves - my experience with authentic fireplaces has been limited. I'm not talking about those fireplaces you typically encounter these days: You know, the ones enclosed in glass, where you flip a switch, and - voila! - fire. It looks like a wood-burning fire place because there are objects that look like wood logs. Of course, they're some sort of artificial creation, since the fire is fueled not by wood, but by gas.
But from time to time, I've been a guest in houses with real fire places, where you need real wood - lots of it. I've seen how kindling is used to start the fire, and how logs are added, slowly and steadily, until the flame takes on a life of its own. Of course, if left to its own devices, that flame begins to wane. The wood, having been consumed, no longer provides the needed fuel. So, unless you want the flame to die, logs are added from time to time. I've even added such logs (admittedly nervously, city rat that I am) and saw how the fire can be sustained as long as the wood fuels it.
While I'd likely not want to have a fireplace in my own home, I did enjoy my brief encounters in the past.
But more than the enjoyment of real fireplaces, these exotic (at least to a city rat) sources of light and heat can teach us something about zeal and our Catholic Faith. We know that we ought to live our faith with zeal. But, like the fireplace, we've got to add more wood from time to time to keep the flame burning. Those of us who at some point in our lives managed to let the fire go out can provide special witness to this. As one of those unfortunates, I remember the rather long, drawn-out process of re-igniting and fanning that flame of faith. The kindling consisted of going to confession, regularly attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion. Over time, saying the rosary, studying my religion, reading good spiritual works, etc. provided "spiritual wood" to keep the flames burning.
And as with real fireplaces, any old wood won't do. The best wood for a fireplace is "seasoned" to remove some of the water content. You can use use wet wood, but it wont' burn efficiently, creates smoke, and gums up your chimney. Seasoned wood burns cleaner and hotter. You season wood by cutting, splitting, stacking the wood and letting it stand in the sun. I might take six months to a year before its ready for the fireplace.
Our "spiritual wood" needs seasoning too. Dragging yourself to Sunday Mass, thoughtlessly mouthing prayers, scanning the Catechism, plowing through Scripture to cover as much ground as possible, and mindlessly skimming spiritual works would be like using wet wood. We need to give quality time and attention to these. Most of all, though, we need be sure that time and attention centers around the two "Great Commandments": 1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength; 2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
If we keep Sunday, the Lord's Day, holy, we can find the time to fuel the fire of our love and to be sure we season our spiritual wood. Excuse me now while I put a few more logs on my own fireplace.
Happy Sunday!
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