Ignatian Spirituality: Set the World Ablaze

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.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Following and Kneeling: The Epiphany Sunday

Following and Kneeling:

The Epiphany Sunday

January 8, 2023

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Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-6; Matthew 2:1-12

The feast of Epiphany is filled with the final figures who make up the Christmas story, the wise men from the east, the learned astrologers of some means and education. Amid the intrigue of this tiny child born of goodness, we know there are people who marvel at the meaning of this birth. These astrologers set off to follow a star, and they leave Bethlehem following a child. The chief priests and scribes foretell the majesty of this birth to the King, who sees the child as a rival that must be vanquished.

The scene is set, and the night is dark, and Herod stands in a vicious, consuming fear against an unknown enemy that he cannot conquer. Today, the night is still dark with a procession of Herods who terrorize the earth, willing to kill children to stay in power. The cycle of fear continues in an unreconciled heart. We encounter Herods who choose power over goodness and make others victims to their fear.

The world still knows the wise men, the many men and women who keep their dreams safely in their hearts to head to Bethlehem, against many obstacles, without regard for their personal fatigue or rejection. Their dream is to kneel before the child. These are faithful people wise enough to follow that star, to watch it illuminate all that is good, and they do not regard themselves as too intelligent, too powerful, or too wealthy, too proud to kneel before the child. The world is filled with people whose hearts are humble, who are ready to do what does not make sense, to leave where they are for the sake of kneeling before the child. For many, that night is dark. For some, there are fears, despair, lack of trust, and much doubt, and yet by the light of that star, they can see enough light to see the road ahead in order to kneel before the child.

Herod cannot steal the show. His limelight fades, and the star that shines brightly are all those people whose hearts are glowing in wonder. This child is born how God intends to be for us – simple, humble, human, vulnerable. The light we see are the human hearts that shine from the goodness that God calls forth, and there are far many people of goodwill and dignity than there are Herods. We are people of the light, people who are drawn to God’s goodness in the child, people who know how to act and choose rightly. We are the ones to kneel before a child because our life depends upon it, because the fate of the world depends upon it, because it is the moment when God touches our hearts and makes sense of all our questioning. We come and kneel.

You are the astronomers, the wise ones, who have come to seek the light. Why did you come here today? What were you seeking? And yet, you come and kneel before the child, with the light in your hearts burning more brightly. Our light increases when we kneel. We need to give away this light that kindles other lights, until…. until… Herod comes to kneel alongside us.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading:

Monday: (Isaiah 42) Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am please, upon whom I have put my spirit.

Tuesday: (Hebrews 2) It was fitting that Jesus, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make their leader to salvation perfect through suffering.

Wednesday: (Hebrews 2) Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus shared in them likewise, that through death he might destroy the one who has power of death.

Thursday: (Hebrews 3) Take care that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart so as to forsake the living God.

Friday (Hebrews 4) Let us be on guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed.

Saturday (Hebrews 4) The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern the reflections and thoughts of the heart.

Gospel:

Monday: (Matthew 3) Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. A voice came from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

Tuesday: (Mark 1) Jesus came to Capernaum’s synagogue when an unclean spirit approached him. He rebuked the Spirit and demonstrated power over him.

Wednesday (Mark 1) Jesus entered the home of Simon and Andrew and cured Simon’s mother-in-law. The townspeople brought many people to him for healing.

Thursday (Mark 1) A leper begged Jesus to heal him. The leprosy left him and he was warned sternly not to make known the source of his healing.

Friday (Mark 2) Jesus returned home and his friends brought a paralytic for healing. He forgave his sins, but the authorities became angry so he also healed his paralysis.

Saturday (Mark 2) Jesus called Levi as a disciple. He was with other tax collectors and sinners, eating and drinking with them. I have come to call sinners, not the righteous, to repentance.

Saints of the Week

January 14: Hilary, bishop and doctor (315-367), was born in Gaul and received the faith as an adult. He was made bishop of Poitiers and defended the church against the Arian heresy. He was exiled to the Eastern Church where his orthodox rigidity made him too much to handle so the emperor accepted him back.

This Week in Jesuit History

January 8, 1601: Balthasar Gracian was born. A Spanish Jesuit, he wrote on courtly matters. He is the author of "The Compleat Gentleman" and "The Art of Worldly Wisdom."
January 9, 1574: Fr. Jasper Haywood died at Naples. He was superior of the English mission. As a boy he was one of the pages of honor to the Princess Elizabeth. After a brilliant career at Oxford, he renounced his fellowship and entered the Society in Rome in 1570. An able Hebrew scholar and theologians, he was for two years professor in the Roman College.
January 10, 1581: Queen Elizabeth signed the fifth Penal Statute in England inflicting heavy fines and imprisonment on all who harbored Jesuits and Seminary priests.
January 10, 1567. Two Jesuits arrived in Havana, Cuba, as a base for evangelization.
January 11, 1573. At Milan, St Charles Borromeo founded a college (the Brera) and placed it under the care of the Society.
January 12, 1544. Xavier wrote a long letter on his apostolic labors, saying he wished to visit all the universities of Europe in search of laborers for our Lord's vineyard. The letter was widely circulated and very influential.
January 13, 1547. At the Council of Trent, Fr. James Laynez, as a papal theologian, defended the Catholic doctrine on the sacraments in a learned three-hour discourse.
January 14, 1989. The death of John Ford SJ, moral theologian and teacher at Weston College and Boston College. He served on the papal commission on birth control.