James 24:7

Ninth in a series of reflections on a story from the Desert Fathers)

Again...here's the story:

"Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, 'Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?' then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him, 'If you will, you can become all flame.'"

"If you will, you can become all flame."

The word fires imagination.

Fire consumes.

I think of Paul's letter to the church in Rome. After exploring the great salvational and redemptive work of God through Christ, Paul took everything he had written  to that point, laid it on the table and asked: "Now, what is the appropriate human response to all that God has done and is doing for us?" 

He wrote: "Present your bodies as living sacrifices..."

I wonder if the image of "living sacrifices" provided the backdrop for Abba Joseph's encouragement to Abba Lot. 

Sacrifices burned.

Fire consumed them.

All flame.

Fire heats

My hands freeze as I type these words.  Cold autumn rain mutes the gold outside my window.  The furnace fan whirs in the background.  My mind runs through the vents and down to the blue gas flame. I lift my hands to the fire.

The fire emits heat. 

emittere...(Latin)...e...'out'...mittere...'to send.'

I find an online Latin translator.  I play with words.

"to send God...emitto Deus"

"to send Christ...emitto Sacralogos"

"to send Holy Spirit...emitto flamen"

Flamen?  Holy Spirit. Flamen!

Fire Lights

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  (Matthew 5:14-16)

"...flame."

Could it be that Abba Joseph's word carries missional intent?   Could it be that Abba Joseph invited Abba Lot to put away his dabbling in matters of the Spirit so that he could be consumed in giving light and heat to those who crossed his path?

Could it be that inviting Abba Lot to become "flame" that Abba Joseph invited him to become all love?