Where there's smoke, there's fire.
From a young age we become aware of the power of heat, of fire. We learn from experience to respond, to respect it’s power and ability to affect our lives. And affect it does – it can warm us up from the blistering cold, it can turn our food from dangerous to safe, it stirs our senses and lights the way in a dark path but it can also burn and hurt us if it’s power is not respected.
Today is a day where we are reminded and acknowledge the power of Christ’s light bursting forth onto the world. So far we have encountered passages of longing – from those who have come before us, the longing for this Holy Fire to come finally arrive, to finally shine bright in a dark and hurtful world.
These cries are the catalyst – the hope of what is to come. We understand this longing, for this is a longing that mirror our own experience that things aren’t quite right.
In many ways, the Story we are being invited into is a story of a fire – of smoke, of a flame and of a fire.
One of the first of our senses to be perked with a fire is that of a recognizing the smell and sight of smoke. Once we are aware of this, it is in our nature to track down it’s source. For where there is smoke there is fire.
Soon we will hear of magi who saw a star, smoke if you will, and knew, or better were compelled, to track down it’s Source. For they knew this was not like others that they were seeing some thing that needed to be responded to.
Every fire starts with a spark and there is no doubt that it was in the conception of our Immanuel, Christ Jesus, that this fire began but as we flash forward in His life we will hear of His baptism. And like a descending dove we see the Father affirm His Son, that this spark has grown into a flame – shining brighter to the world, spreading further.
A fire is rarely controllable, we fool ourselves with the allusion of a ‘safe’ fire. Look no further to the wildfires we see out west or a local house fire. A simple spark, often in a controlled and in safe space can quickly spread out of control. It is in the flame of His baptism that this is stoked, we hear of individuals drawn to Christ’s presence to follow. We will see how they gathered at a wedding, no doubt that this is not their first time together. Prior to this event Jesus has carefully tended to this flame, awaiting the proper time to release it’s power – then at the prompting of His mother, it happens.
And He warns his mother. For in doing so He foresaw all the events that would follow.
A fire, the unquenchable flame, that would spread and that would change the world – for this flame was a Kingdom that would spread, that is spreading. And we are invited to see that flame, that light in all things. That in and through Christ, this world is no longer the same and we are invited to help spread this light.
Today we remember this.