November 16, St. Margaret of Scotland

I will seat the victor beside me on my throne. — Revelation 3:21 

Mass reading: Revelation 3:1-6,14-22 / Luke 19:1-10 

Turn Up the Heat 

Today’s first reading from Revelation is a little too close for comfort. “Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” I often feel my response to God’s message is lukewarm, at best. It’s not for lack of trying. I say the words of prayers. I hear the words of Scripture. But it’s still business-as-usual in the details of my life. I haven’t let Jesus remake me into someone truly on fire with His love. 

How do we go from lukewarm to on fire? We can take our cue from Zacchaeus in today’s Gospel. He was anything but lukewarm, climbing a tree just to get a glimpse of Jesus and then offering to give away half his possessions. This is what Jesus wants from us: total devotion, unbridled passion.  

Prayer: Dear God, may the fire of Your transforming love engulf me, heart and soul.