Come Down, O Love Divine

Today, while the worst of the wildfires raged, we happened to sing, Come Down, O Love Divine at Mass. In a song about the Holy Spirit, one expects some fire imagery, but still it was somewhat disconcerting to sing

O let it freely burn till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming.
And let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight and clothe me 'round the while my path illuming.

In this world, unchecked fire destroys. But like the fire that greeted Moses in the burning bush, this Fire, the divine flame, burns without destruction. Nothing that IS is destroyed by these flames. Only what is not. Only that which, by its soggy presence in the soul, dampens the fires of joy and love. The Holy Spirit has no patience with our sinfulness, thank God. The Holy Spirit wants the dreariness and weight of damp sin to be overcome by laughing, burning love. The Holy Spirit wants to be in our souls, for their purification and joy.