...the rays of His Holy Spirit

As a magnifying glass

concentrates the rays of the sun

into a little burning knot of heat

that can set fire

to a dry leaf or a piece of paper,

so the mysteries of Christ

in the Gospel

concentrates the rays

of God's light and fire

inot a point that sets fire

to the spirit of humankind.

And this is why Christ was born

and lived in the world

and died and returned from death

and ascended to His Father in heaven...

the the glass of his humanity

He concentrates

the rays of His Holy Spirit

upon us

so that we can feel the burn.

~ Thomas Merton