Pope at Angelus: Fire of God’s love burns in charity

At the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus brought the fire of God’s love upon earth, to overcome apathy and open our hearts to the needs of others.

Aug 19, 2019

By Devin Watkins
Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel (Lk 12:49-33), in which Jesus tells his disciples that the time has come to make a decisive choice in favor of the Gospel.

This choice, said the Pope, cannot be postponed, as Jesus’ image of the fire shows.

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” Jesus tells his disciples.

“These words are intended to help the disciples abandon every attitude of laziness, apathy, indifference, and closure so as to welcome the fire of God's love,” the Holy Father said.

That fire kindles life and saves humanity. By spreading God’s limitless love throughout the world, he said, we are recognized as Jesus’ true disciples.

Fire overcomes divisions
Pope Francis said the Christian witness to the Gospel is like a beneficial fire, “overcoming every division among individuals, social categories, peoples, and nations.”

“It burns all forms of particularism and keeps charity open to all,” he said, adding that it has “a single preference: that for the poorest and the excluded.”

The fire of God’s love “envelops our entire existence and requires a willingness to serve our neighbor.”--Vatican News