Thirty-Ninth Meditation

(Ascent of Mount Carmel, book III: chapter 45)

"When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling; and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (81)


Words Of Fire

The preacher's message won't be heard
Without the power of Spirit;
Despite the beauty of his word,
The stopped-up ears cannot hear it.

The Spirit, with power of fire,
Enkindles his heart and his speech.
His message will stir and inspire
The souls of those his words can reach.

She recollects her heart and mind,
To listen with her heart entire.
The preacher and soul are aligned
To transmit Spirit's words of fire.

The Spirit enkindles the soul
Which opens to receive Him whole.

81. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5


(c) Paul Buis, 2003