Fire. I love fire. It purifies. It destroys. It dances. It changes things. Admiring fire never gets old for me. Whether a candle’s flame or a bonfire’s roar, I lose track of time the longer I stare at fire. I love how useful fire is too. It can cook and clean and make the invisible appear in its light. Fire, honestly, is one of my absolute favorite things in this entire world.

Today’s first reading announces the Presentation of the Lord saying, “suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek […] like the refiner’s fire […]”. Excellent, more fire. But these verses are making me think.  They say that the Lord will come to the temple like fire. …Isn’t that a little…dangerous??  Wouldn’t the whole temple burn down if fire suddenly happened upon it? What could be God’s point here?

I believe God wants to enter into each of us and speak to us individually in a unique way. However, he won’t just come barging in our lives without an invitation. He’s polite like that. But the reality is, if we choose to let him in, it is a little dangerous. He comes like fire, changing our hearts and purifying us. He asks us to leave certain habits, addictions, and fears behind, refining our lives until he has made us new, even more beautiful creations. He burns away the baggage that weighs us down. 

Perhaps the temple Malachi refers to today is us. If we replace the word “temple” with ourselves, today’s scriptures take on a new character:  Suddenly, the Lord whom you seek will come to your life like the refiner’s fire. He will change your heart and your very being in unimaginable ways and purify your soul. He will use you and give you purpose. He will reveal his way in uncertain situations and ask you to trust him wholly.

Let’s take some time today to reflect on how we can let God in our lives today. How can we let him refine us until we are blazing on fire with his Truth?