To search for prayer and Jesuit resources, in the blog search field type in the keywords:
poem, prayer, song, spirituality, Jesuit, constitutions, photos, or specific phrases.
February 14, 2010
Without diminishing the impact of the words of Jesus upon his hearers, I view his words through Ignatius of Loyola’s understanding of indifference. Jeremiah curses the person who seeks after human esteem instead of God’s glory while urging his people to turn their hearts back to the Lord. Jesus does the same thing in Luke’s account of the sermon on the plain. Above all, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Ignatius wants each of us to orient all our meaningful actions and thoughts toward pleasing God and to discover the end for which we are created.
The provocative words of Jesus to the poor, hungry and suffering tell us that the happiness that Jesus sees in us is a taste of present liberation from chaos and poverty that will be fully eliminated in God’s kingdom. Enduring happiness in God’s future realm stems from the realization that God will fully remove our chaos and fulfill our needs. Jesus likewise chastises the rich, the satisfied, and the financially secure and heaps a myriad of woes upon them. What does this mean for us who are financially secure? He is not condemning our possession of wealth as much as he is urging us to be apostles of divine blessings to those who are needy. We are not to be preoccupied with our financial stability or to care too much about our own satisfaction. These conditions separate us from others and we are always called, no matter our financial situation, to look beyond ourselves. Jesus also asks us to consider and to embrace the ways that we are poor and in need. We then become more compassionate and can better identify with others who are dependent upon human mercy. Only doing God’s will can satisfy us.
Ignatian indifference begs us to look at God’s will for us today and to rid ourselves of anything that prohibit us from receiving or acting upon God’s will. In his meditation on the Three Classes of Persons, the one who has inherited a great sum of money does not decide to give the money away or keep it. She decides to discern God’s will for her, which may have nothing to do with the money. The important matter is discovering God’s will and being indifferent to our status in life as we learn not to seek human glory or reward. Ignatius, like Jesus, reminds us that we are to share the gifts with one another that we have freely received. By taking care of other’s needs, our needs become met.
Quote for the Week
From the Joel 2 from the Ash Wednesday liturgy:
“Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord your God.”
Themes for this Week’s Masses
First Reading: This week’s readings (James) prepare us for the upcoming Lenten season by instructing us in ways to persevere in trial and to give of ourselves joyfully. Temptations are based on our desires and evil desires bring about sin, which results in death. Joel implores us to turn back to the Lord and to repent from our wrongdoings. We are to make God proud by living lives worthy of God’s judgment. Moses in Deuteronomy tells us that we have two possible routes to take in life – the one that leads to life and prosperity or the one that brings about death and doom. We have a choice and we exercise our choice by keeping God’s commandments that are based on divine love. Isaiah sings about the necessity of fasting – a fasting based on social concern for our weaker brothers and sisters. If you delight in the Lord, the Lord will nourish you.
Gospel: Jesus is frustrated with the designs of the Pharisees as they demand a sign as proof of his authority. He asserts that his power is not to be used for such purposes. Jesus perplexes his already confused disciples when they do not understand his references to the attitudes of the Pharisees and Herod. The proof of his miracles point to God’s providence over the poor and hungry, but they become dull in their comprehension. After giving instructions for appropriate fasting, Jesus tells his friends that he will suffer greatly and be rejected and that his true followers must do the same. Jesus surprises everyone by calling men into his closest circle. He calls Levi (Matthew), a despicable tax collector and he eats and drinks with sinners.
Saints of the Week
Tuesday: Mardi Gras is your last chance to eat meat before Lent. This is the last day of Carnival (Carne- meat, Goodbye – vale). Say goodbye to meat as we begin the fasting practices tomorrow.
Wednesday: Ash Wednesday is the customary beginning to the season of Lent. A penitential time marked by increased fasting, prayer and almsgiving, we begin our 40-day tradition of sacrifice as we walk the way of Jesus that ends at the Cross during Holy Week. Lent is a time of conversion, a time to deepen one’s relationship with Christ, for all roads lead to his Cross of Suffering and Glory.
This Week in Jesuit History
• Feb 14, 1769. At Cadiz, 241 Jesuits from Chile were put on board a Swedish vessel to be deported to Italy as exiles.
• Feb 15, 1732. Fr. Chamillard SJ, who had been reported by the Jansenists as having died a Jansenist and working miracles, suddenly appeared alive and well!
• Feb 16, 1776. At Rome, the Jesuit prisoners in Castel San Angelo were restored to liberty. Fr Romberg, the German assistant, aged 80, expressed a wish to remain in prison.
• Feb 17, 1775. The French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Neapolitan Ambassadors in Rome intimate to the newly elected Pope Pius VI the will of their respective sovereigns that the Jesuits imprisoned in Castel San Angelo should not be released.
• Feb 18, 1595. Fr. Robert Southwell, after two and a half years imprisonment in the tower, was removed to Newgate and there thrust into a dungeon known as "Limbo."
• Feb 19, 1581. The election of Fr. Claude Acquaviva as fifth general in the Fourth General Congregation. He was only 37 years of age and a Jesuit for only l4 years. He served general under eight popes. He had been a fellow novice with Stanislaus.
• Feb 20, 1860. Pope Pius IX visits the Ignatius’ rooms in Rome.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Much love, joy, and intimacy to all of you who are in love. May you find delight in one another in the way that God delights in you.
Blessing and Giving of Ashes
Lord, bless these ashes by which we show that we are dust. Pardon our sins and keep us faithful to the discipline of Lent, for you do not want sinners to die but to live with the risen Christ, who reigns and lives with you forever and ever.
The priest places the ashes on the foreheads of the faithful saying:
“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel” or
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
Chinese New Year
Happy New Year to all the Chinese Catholic Communities (especially to my friends at the Boston Chinese Catholic Community) who are celebrating the start of the lunar new year! This is the year of the Tiger. May you all eat plenty of good food - fish for the good days ahead, noodles for a long life, dumplings that look like gold for prosperity, and sweet candies with red wrappers for good luck! Scare away that monstrous beast that roams the streets on New Years with plenty of lights, firecrackers, dragon and lion dances, and fireworks. Blessings on your new year.
Note:
During my tertianship program there might be times when I cannot send out the weekly email list, but I will update my blog regularly. Access predmore.blogspot.com for weekly and daily updates or predmoresj.blogspot.com for my tertian program news.
No comments:
Post a Comment