Tongues of Fire

What about those ‘tongues of fire’?

At Pentecost, a powerful wind hit the house, the noise was palpable:

And something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire, these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them (Acts 2).

St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) grabs hold of the event and squeezes out the symbolism:

The burning fire symbolises love.

The light from the fire symbolises wisdom.

The tongues symbolise eloquence.

Putting it all together, St. Robert draws out the meaning for the disciples of the Lord:

‘Eloquence without love and wisdom is empty chattering. Wisdom and eloquence without love are dead and useless. Love without wisdom and eloquence is like a brave man unarmed.’

So, we are to speak with love, wisdom and eloquence.

And this is true ‘always and everywhere,’ especially in our multi-media world.

Amen.