Ignatian Meditation: Choosing Love

I can’t imagine a world of the condemned, one with devils, snakes, and poisons. But today, Jesus asks us to imagine one. And then, he asks us to imagine another: a world of believers; who are fearless and remain unharmed; who have gifts of language and heal with the touch of their hands. 

Jesus then asks us to “will” or to “choose” one world over the other: the world with the standard of the Other, of riches, honor and pride, or; the world with the standard of Christ, of service, liberation, and love.

St Ignatius knew that, in the end, there is no ground between these worlds: we must choose.

What is my heart’s desire? Which world do I believe in and choose?

The King

You will find him among those who have nothing.

He is the man of any color unnoticed

In the back of the room.

Within all living ones,

Wherever there is respect, kindness, caring,

His kingdom is there.

The old ones realized that he followed

The heart of their teachings,

He was the king of their hearts.

He chose the difficult road,

The mysterious and dangerous road,

Bringing little with him.

He never left anyone out.

He despised only the actions of those

Who used jealousy and hatred

To advance their kingdoms.

His kingdom lives only in the inmost center

Of all living ones,

It manifests itself not outside,

In displays of arrogance and power;

But inside, in kind and courageous manners.

He is the king of their hearts.

No magic ever saved him

From the sharp edges of this world.

He accepted all burdens and pain.

In the midst of chaos and unbelievable cruelty

He stayed on his feet, his eyes focused

On the capacity for goodness in all living ones,

His gaze fixed on a gathering place not here,

Created only by love.

He is the king of all hearts.

Pat Twohy, SJ

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Mark 16: 15-18