Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Ignatius was a soldier in every sense of the word; his first authentic experience of God occurred while recovering from a devastating battle injury. His deep desire to defend and protect the interests of his homeland drove him and allowed him to express his passion. Having said this, he was no saint. Like most of us, he was a human being attracted to things less than 'holy' and God, knowing this, directed his passion and desire toward the glorious work of the Kingdom. Ignatius's story inspires me because it is a perfect example of how God works through our human desires—and human weakness—to accomplish the work of God's Kingdom. I am also inspired by how Ignatius shared his deep personal experiences of God; he realized the power of personal testimony in bringing others to God. But his greatest legacy is the community he gathered together which, to this day, thrives around the world.
The first reading from Exodus relates Moses descending the mountain with the tablets of the Ten Commandments only to find, in his absence, the Israelites were worshiping a golden calf. Moses, enraged by their betrayal, destroys the tablets. Moses was known for his anger—it even led him to commit murder (Ex 2:11-15). Ultimately, Moses intercedes for his community; his love for the Israelites was so deep he was willing to sacrifice his own redemption for them. Ignatius, in his own time, dealt with intense passion as well as intense opposition during the height of the Reformation. His entire legacy is founded upon the Jesuits—the community that now thrives many centuries later.
Christianity has always been counter-cultural since Jesus first began his ministry. Especially now, when we are overwhelmed with messages of how 'free' and 'prosperous' life is in our own culture, it is hard to stay true and fight for the Gospel of Jesus. So let us return to the Gospel for a minute and prayerfully considering what Jesus Christ says to us: "The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." These words can lead us to question how I live in this culture and these times…how I work to make ends meet, raise my family and do right by my community. I find I am left with more questions than answers. Do I realize I live in a world that is anti-Christian? Do I 'go along' with the crowd to avoid resistance? Do I feel at odds with what the popular culture promotes? Is my emotional comfort more important than the work of discipleship that Jesus asks of me? To be honest, if my job and the livelihood of my family depended upon 'fitting in' at my workplace, I would probably 'fit in'. If I knew that my sick child needed the medical insurance my job provides, I would feel justified in tolerating a work environment that was less than supportive of authentic Christianity. Considering all the insecurity and judgmental attitudes that prevail, I can see myself sticking it out for the sake of my family. Everyone is trying to make it through. I really believe we are all doing the best we can. And I firmly believe Jesus sees all we deal with.
One thing I have learned is, no matter where I find myself in this daily struggle, I must be closely integrated with my Parish community. I must regularly share what I am going through with a trusted group of fellow disciples. What was one of the first things Jesus did when he began his ministry? He developed his community. This is how Moses lived and what Ignatius lived—always in community. There is no such thing as a Christian who functions alone; even the few Christian hermits began, and are sustained by, a strong and stable Christian community.
This day, may we give thanks to our Trinitarian God—who has always lived in community—for our own parish communities. May God grace us with the strength to deeply enter the family of fellow disciples God has placed before us. And may our participation in this community bring glory to God. Amen.
--Gail Lyman