consume fire

today June 9th, we remember St. Ephrem, deacon in the early church (306-373). He was a preacher, theologian, and care giver.

St. Ephrem died because he contracted the plague while caring for those already affected, nursing the sick and preparing them for death.

St. Ephrem teaches us to place every expectation in the Lord and then simply live life in charity.

Here is a snippet of his writings, On the Nativity of CHrist:

"The Lord entered Mary, and became a servant; the Word entered her, and became silent within her; thunder entered her, and his voice was still; the shepherd of all entered her; he became a Lamb in her, and came forth bleating....Rich he went in, and came out poor; the High one went in her, and came out lowly...He who gives food to all went in, and knew hunger, He who gives drink to all went in, and knew thirst. Naked and bare came forth from her the clother of all things in beauty."

On the Eucharist, he states,
"In your bread hides the Spirit who cannot be consumed; in your wine is the fire that can not be swallowed. The Spirit in your bread, fire in your wine; behold a wonder heard from our lips...we have consumed the fire in the bread and have been invigorated."

In the EUcharist we consume the fire of God and are sent a blaze. What an image!

Today;s gospel is touching for all of us. Jesus, in the midst of his farewell address, takes a detour and prays for us, "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they may also be in us, that the world may believe you sent me...Father they are your gift to me..."


Jesus dies praying for us. St. Paul i the letter of HEbrews reminds us that he forever intercedes for us.

In the midst of his prayer Jesus turns to the Father and prays in thanksgiving, "Father, they are your gift to me."

We are the Father's gift to JEsus. We are a gift.

Today live your life as a gift. Rediscover your true value.