John Predmore, S.J., is a USA East Province Jesuit and was the pastor of Jordan's English language parish. He teaches art and directs BC High's adult spiritual formation programs. Formerly a retreat director in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Ignatian Spirituality is given through guided meditations, weekend-, 8-day, and 30-day Retreats based on The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatian Spirituality serves the contemporary world as people strive to develop a friendship with God.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Spirituality: Joseph
What is said about Joseph can be summarized like this: accept the mission from God, let yourself be led by God, embrace the hardship and danger in order to save the Savior. Joseph saves Mary’s reputation, the lineage of Jesus, the integrity of the Child, his rootedness in the land of Israel. … But at the same time he, the first one saved by God from a false conception of justice, chose God’s designs, what God asked of him. Joseph is also saved from an isolated life that would have been perhaps less turbulent, but that would have lacked the consolation of carrying God in his arms.
What a beautiful phrase - "the consolation of carrying God in his arms". When I was making the 19th Annotation and was contemplating the stable scene and how I could help Mary, I experienced holding Jesus in my imagination and was absolutely overwhelmed. Thank you for this reflection.
ReplyDeleteOh, good. I hope you imagine that all the time. It is important to have that point of connection.
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