Oprah Winfrey and Catherine of Siena On Setting the World Ablaze

Some while back a FaceBook friend posted two quotes together:

Oprah Winfrey:

Know what sparks the light in you. Then use that light to illuminate the world.

Catherine of Siena:

If you are what you should be, you will set the world on fire.

But of course, these two statements aren’t identical. Oprah’s dictum is focussed completely on the individual: find out what brings out the best in you, and then bring that to the world. And that’s good advice. But Catherine’s subtext is deeper (and less metaphorical). Be what you should be! Be what God created you to be! Follow your calling! It looks not at the individual, but at the individual in relationship with Jesus Christ, becoming transformed in Christ.

Bring out the best you have in you, and you can illuminate the world…but allow Christ to bring out the best you have in you, and you will set the world ablaze. To bring the fire, you have to first submit to the Refiner’s fire.