Ignatius uses medieval military imagery in this meditation in which we see two people and two banners: Jesus and Lucifer (lightbearer – because he disguises his dark schemes under light). Two huge armies. Two voices and two messages: Lucifer – wealth and renown, which leads to pride. Jesus – spiritual poverty (perhaps actual poverty), contempt or humiliation, which leads to humility. (Don’t let the language get in the way)
Ignatius wants us to see three important truths:
a. We are in a life and death struggle between light and darkness, good and evil.
b. The resources of Lucifer are huge.
c. The strategies of the evil spirit are very clever
The evil spirit seduces us in small ways. We cannot eradicate evil. The weeds will always grow along with the wheat. The temptation of money and reputation is always lurking (money and reputation are neutral, but the evil spirit uses them to entice us to see ourselves as better than others.) We can build our self-worth and esteem on having more or being more than someone else. Most of us are tempted to be more self-sufficient, independent and to see ourselves as better than others. That is pride, which separates us from our true-self, from our neighbors and from God.
The way of Jesus is spiritual poverty (detachment from possessions), even actual poverty (if God asks us), and humiliation (being laughed at for not seeking more privileges and material things), which lead to humility. Humility means seeing and accepting myself as beloved of God and with dignity. The two standards can look like this:
Lucifer: Riches – what is possessed defines me
Jesus: Poverty – Freedom from possessions
Lucifer: Renown, Honor – approval of others defines me.
Jesus: Humiliation – freedom from validation of others.
Lucifer: Pride – self-sufficiency
Jesus: Humility – freedom from independence (separate) or supremacy (above)
To follow Jesus more closely means entering into conflict with Lucifer for two principal reasons: 1.) Lucifer is afraid of the power of good which you have, and 2.) you are joining Jesus’ mission to encourage all people to turn to one another in compassion and love. Humility is foundational for compassion as it acknowledges our need for one another. The mission is cosmic.
The Two Standards Meditations
Consider how Christ calls and wants all under his standard; Lucifer, on the contrary, under his.
A composition, seeing the place. It will be here to see a great field of all that region of Jerusalem, where the supreme Commander-in-chief of the good is Christ our Lord; another field in the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.
Ask for what I want: and it will be here to ask for knowledge of the deceits of the bad chief and help to guard myself against them, and for knowledge of the true life which the supreme and true Captain shows and grace to imitate Him.
Imagine the chief of all the enemy seated himself in that great field of Babylon, as in a great chair of fire and smoke, in shape horrible and terrifying. Consider how he summons innumerable demons and how he scatters them, some to one city and others to another, and so through all the world, not omitting any provinces, places, states, nor any persons in particular.
Consider the discourse which he makes them, and how he tells them to cast out nets and chains; that they have first to tempt with a longing for riches -- as he is accustomed to do in most cases -- that men may more easily come to vain honor of the world, and then to vast pride. So that the first step shall be that of riches; the second, that of honor; the third, that of pride; and from these three steps he draws on to all the other vices.
So, on the contrary, one has to imagine as to the supreme and true captain, who is Christ our Lord.
Consider how Christ our Lord puts himself in a great field of that region of Jerusalem, in lowly place, beautiful and attractive. Consider how the Lord of the entire world chooses so many persons -- apostles, disciples -- and sends them spreading his sacred doctrine through all states and conditions of persons.
Consider the discourse which Christ our Lord makes to all his servants and friends whom he sends on this expedition, recommending them to want to help all, by bringing them first to the highest spiritual poverty, and -- if his Divine Majesty would be served and would want to choose them -- no less to actual poverty; the second is to be of contumely and contempt; because from these two things humility follows. So that there are to be three steps; the first, poverty against riches; the second, contumely or contempt against worldly honor; the third, humility against pride. And from these three steps let them induce to all the other virtues.
Adapted by Fr. Ken Hughes, S.J.
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