Destruction or healing?

Though they may seem diametrically opposed to one another by their nature, fire and water have more in common than meets the eye:

Both are elemental forces that need taming, or those in their way will meet their ends.

Both have the ability to destroy with forces so strong they can level all in their path, even unto total annihilation.

Both provide life.

Both have cleansing effects, though in different ways.

God provides both as a gift to mankind–without both fire and water, we could not survive.

The power of fire

I don’t think we underestimate the power of fire; we depend on it in many ways. Among other things, it enables us to drive our (gas engine) vehicles, heat our homes, and cook our food.

But most notably, it breaks through the darkness by shedding it’s light. After all, the sun is a ball of hydrogen-fire.

We all know water, by its very nature, cleanses by purifying and washing away dirt and impurities. But how can fire also have “cleansing power”?

Cleansing power

On a physical level, when used for controlled burning, fire increases nitrogen levels in the soil, providing a “clean” and more healthy environment for new and thicker flora or crops to thrive.

But can fire “cleanse” on a metaphysical level?

Fire: a symbol for love

With all its potentially destructive and dangerous properties, fire has also been regarded as a symbol for love–well, at least to human passion or to “burning” desire.

But where does this notion come from?

And is the Christian’s understanding of love different from mere passion?

How can one compare fire to love?

The most basic difference is the Christian understands he is loved first by the God who created fire.

To help us to understand its magnitude, God Himself compares His love for us to fire.

It is worth noting the apostle John opened his gospel by rewriting the sequence of the beginning of creation with Jesus of Nazareth in His rightful place–at the very beginning–calling Him the “Word” (John 1:1).

He next referred to Him as the “Light” shining in the darkness, which the darkness cannot “overcome”, or put out (John 1:5).

The author of the book of Hebrews goes further in describing Jesus as a cleansing light in that He enlightens us to see the truth, and purifies what is dead inside of us (Heb 9:14).

Since John the Beloved equated Jesus to the “Light” of the world, then the “heat” Jesus emits indicates the fullness this expansive property that has not lost it’s power even today.

Jesus Himself proclaims to the crowds and His disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12: 49).

He did not mean for His followers to light fires and burn up towns and villages everywhere they went.

He meant for them to believe they are deeply loved by God so much that He sent His Son, the Messiah, to rescue them (and everyone) from sin, despair and permanent death–if only they accept His love and invitation to become His adopted sons and daughters.

One can also infer from Luke’s Gospel account that, even in Jesus’ time, not everyone could take the heat.

Jesus said:

“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three” (Luke 12: 51-52).

No “lukewarm” person could do that. It had to be someone who was “set on fire”.

Jesus was saying the “fire” He came to start is much like the real thing–burning away impurities, leaving behind only those willing to undergo and withstand its heat.

Not everyone wants to be subjected to that. It sounds scary, and frankly…painful.

Well, God’s love is scary. And painful. It requires many small “deaths” for the Christian and, more times than not, we want to shrink away from its burning heat.

But it’s a heat that ignites new life within us, and gives hope for a new beginning.

But what about water?

All this discussion about fire, you thought I forgot the water, didn’t you. Well, I admit I got a little carried away–but I didn’t forget!

The significance of water and its comparison to “renewal” is obvious to us and requires little discussion, because we know:

It is the means God uses to provide new life on earth.

We develop in water in our mother’s wombs, drink it to maintain hydration (since we’re made up of mostly water ourselves), and use it to grow our food.

Therefore, water brings forth and sustains all life.

Though the examples are almost endless, I will draw one important distinctive use of water God employs as a symbol for initiation and purification, much like He does with fire: baptism.

When the Christian is baptized with the fire of God’s love, his response is to be baptized with water.

When St. Paul (as Saul) was knocked off his high horse at Jesus’ appearance, he did as Jesus instructed and entered Damascus where he was healed of his blindness.

But instead of preaching right away, what did he do next?

He was baptized with water (see Acts 22: 6-16).

Why?

To wash away his sins by the power of God. He was given new life as a Son of God through the vehicle of water.

And what was Jesus’ last command to His disciples before His ascension into heaven?

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28: 19-20).

They knew He instructed them to baptize with water (as John the Baptist did)– transforming it into a sacramental made powerful by the infusion of His grace.

One can conclude, therefore, it takes both fire and water to receive God’s life within us–one, an external illustration of an internal reality, the other a vehicle that ushers in new life.

Both purify and cleanse us, and both prepare us as we await our eternal glory in heaven (CCC 1215).

Indeed, without both fire and water, we could not survive.

St. Paul, on the feast of your conversion, pray for us.

Sources: Catechism of the Catholic Church, second ed., http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm.

Scripture links: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1, https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/12?49=#50012049, https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/9, https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/24,https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/22, https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/28