Fire and water are usually considered contraries, with water extinguishing fire, and fire burning away moisture. It is thus interesting that these apparent opposites are both used as images of the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Acts, we encounter the Spirit as fire—with tongues of flame coming to rest on the disciples gathered in prayer. This can be understood as a fulfillment of John the Baptist’s prophecy that the one coming after him would baptize with the Spirit and with fire. And in mentioning baptism, we call to mind the second image—water—as another symbol of the Holy Spirit. It is under this image that Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit forming that inner spring welling up to Eternal Life—so that the one who drinks of it will never grow thirsty again.
The two images of fire and water—though seemingly opposites—are actually rich in their symbolism and complementary in describing the Holy Spirit’s central role in our ultimate salvation in Christ. This complementarity becomes clearer when we introduce an additional image or metaphor, that involves water and fire. I am thinking of the potter whose clay needs to be softened with water before being shaped. But then, once shaped, it is the fire in the kiln that bakes the clay and strengthens and perfects it. Similarly, the Spirit is that water softening the otherwise hardened human heart and allowing it to be reshaped through the Spirit’s grace of conversion. But then, it is also the Spirit—as fire—that purifies and strengthens the heart and soul, confirming it in virtue and restoring our likeness to God in whose image we were first created.
In addition, the image of tongues of fire coming to rest on the praying disciples serves as a good illustration of how the purifying effect of the Spirit gradually brings about the usually lengthy process of our sanctification. Initially, like those external tongues of fire resting on the disciples, the Spirit purifies and heals us of the more superficial and obvious expressions of sin and our unlikeness to God. But, if we are trusting and persevering in opening our hearts to the Spirit’s cleansing flame, the Spirit steadily penetrates into the darkest regions of our hearts, enlightening, uncovering and destroying the deepest roots of sin. And then having completed this painful, purifying, cauterizing, and healing function, the Holy Spirit—now finally in the very depths of the human heart—is free to become that living Spring welling up into eternal life.
And so on this great Solemnity of Pentecost, we should be encouraged to welcome the Holy Spirit—both as fire and water—into our hearts, trusting that the unavoidable pain and suffering that come from the purifying fire of the Spirit are but the necessary sequel to the initial cleansing waters poured out at Baptism, that eventually become that upwelling living Spring whose eternal waters quench the otherwise unquenchable thirst of hearts destined to find eternal rest in their Creator. Only in this way can we make our own the words of the Psalmist: You tested us, O God, tried us as silver is tried by fire; we went through fire and water, but then you led us to freedom—a freedom that is essential to restoring our likeness to the God who himself created us in perfect freedom.