Margaret Vasquez, LPCC and Fr. David Tickerhoof, TOR discuss the notion of the baptism in fire that was foretold by St. John the Baptist.
There were graces of renewal flowing from Vatican Council II that brought a deepening of life, power, spiritual gifts, and in particular intimacy of relationship with the Trinity. This is known as the charismatic renewal or baptism in the Holy Spirit. Today, we see a resurgence of renewal from the Encounter movement out of Brighton, Michigan. There is a focus on understanding and practicing the spiritual gifts flowing from the relationship with the Lord.
There’s another dimension known as the baptism in fire (Mt 3:11-12) John the Baptist spoke of when he said the Lord would baptize us in the Holy Spirit and fire. What is that fire? In Scripture fire represents the Lord’s presence, purification, and sometimes punishment. In particular, fire seems to represent power. That fire becomes transforming power! We ought not to ignore, but instead be aware of it, open to, and pray for that deeper transformation.
Margaret shares her story of being prayed with for the baptism in fire and how astounding that grace was and was so other than anything she had ever experienced. The power of God’s love took away every fear, even the fear of death and kept Margaret tethered to the lordship of Jesus even in years of wandering and brokenness where she ended up questioning her faith.
The revelations St. Catherine of Genoa received regarding purgatory essentially saw what is at times consolation, sometimes suffering, even the purifying fires of purgatory to be one fire – the fire of His love! That can ground us, fill us with gratitude, and help us remember that the Lord is always loving us through whatever He allows in our lives, even if it seems very difficult at the time.
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