God is a Fire of Love

Interpretation and adaptation of a text by Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

1. God is a Fire of Love

Saint Paul tells us: “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29).

This fire does not destroy with violence but transforms with love.

Everything it touches is changed into itself.

Just as wood becomes flame,

the soul that opens itself to God becomes a reflection of His love.

2. The Soul that Lets Itself Be Loved

Saint Elizabeth reminds us that the greatest thing is not what we do for God,

but what God does within us.

Some souls “lose themselves” in His love and rest in Him,

like a boat sailing freely on an infinite ocean.

3. Mystical Death

Saint Paul spoke of dying to oneself.

Elizabeth sees this “death” not as tragedy,

but as a sweet surrender:

less worrying about what I must let go of,

and more trusting myself to the Furnace of Love that is the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit is the living Love between the Father and the Son,

and invites us to enter into that communion.

4. Contemplation as Communion

Prayer is not only thinking about God,

but living with Him, sharing His life,

being in communion with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

This is contemplation:

a foretaste of eternal life,

a peace that surpasses all reason.

5. Jesus Brings Fire to the Earth

Jesus said: “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Lk 12:49).

That fire is His love within us.

He does not desire so much our external works,

but rather that our soul may grow, rise, and be conformed to Him.

6. The Surrender of the Will

To live this love, the soul must be entirely surrendered:

“Lord, I want what You want.”

Then everything—work, joys, sorrows—

becomes an occasion to love.

As David sang: “I will keep all my strength for You” (Ps 59:9).

7. One Single Occupation: Love

When the soul allows itself to be filled with this love,

it learns that, even in the midst of cares and worries,

the only thing that truly matters is to love.

And so it can say with truth:

“My only work is to love.”

🙏 For Meditation:

Do I recognize that it is God who transforms me? Do I trust that His love is stronger than my limitations? Can I begin today to live with a simple purpose: to love in all things?