Luke 21: 29-33
Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
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.
Trust that God is Near
Ignatius invites us to pay attention to the movements happening within and around us - those of the “good spirit” originating from God and those of the “evil spirit” originating from forces working against God.
These days, I so easily identify examples in the world around me of the “good spirit” and the “evil spirit” at work. I readily bring real-world examples to God and assert with confidence either “God, I see you at work in this” or “God, I know this is not of you or for you.”
It is the movements particularly of the “evil spirit” within me that I find harder to identify. This inner “evil spirit” is so subtle! It whispers to me gradually over time, so gradually that I hardly notice my words or actions changing in response.
The evil spirit softly says things like: “I know you feel called to act in this moment, but do you really know it’s what God wants you to do? You should keep waiting for a more direct sign” and so I doubt my discernment and wait.
The Gospel today reminds us that direct signs of God are all around, we just need to pay attention! The evil spirit seeks to distract us, but Jesus reminds us we can trust our eyes when we see God is near. We can trust our hearts when we are moved to action. We can trust what lasts.
—Gretchen Crowder is Campus Minister at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas.
Prayer
Lord,
In the deepest recesses of my heart,
I know Your voice.
Yours is the voice that tells me:
“I love you, as you are, no matter what.”
Yours is the voice that tells me:
“You have all you need to set this world on fire.”
Yours is the voice that tells me:
“I’ve got you.”
Yet even knowing Your voice as I do,
I still get tricked
by the voice inside that asks me:
“Does he really love every part of you?”
by the voice inside that asks me:
“Are you really enough to make a difference?”
by the voice inside that asks me:
“Are you really sure he has you?”
I need your help, Lord,
to sift out Your voice from the rest,
to trust what I know to be true,
to silence what I know is not,
and to take a leap of faith.
—Gretchen Crowder
Pray with the Pope
Pray with the monthly prayer intentions of the pope.