July 31, 2020

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Lk 14: 25-33

Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’  Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.  So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Letting go of what holds us back from love

It feels like Jesus is challenging me in this Gospel. On today’s feast day, however, I look to St. Ignatius’ wisdom, who sees this total surrender of the things of this world as an invitation. Be free. Free of cultural norms, obligations, anxieties, and all my stuff. Listen to Jesus and you will learn to let go. Sure, there will be suffering, but we all suffer. With him, there is a deeper meaning along with unity and redemption. With Jesus the invitation is to be free to love fully and completely with total abandon.

What do I need to let go of, in order to love more fully?  

—Erin Maiorca is the Executive Director at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL. Erin’s other vocations include wife to Tom and mother to two wonderful sons. 

 

Prayer

Good and gracious God, help me to see as you see,
Free me to be guided by your Holy Spirit.
Create in me the freedom to choose that which leads me to you. 

—Erin Maiorca

Please share the Good Word with your friends!