The final meditation in the Spiritual Exercises is the contemplation to attain love. This final meditation is an invitation to let the Holy Spirit infuse our hearts so that we may envision a new way of being. We can begin to imagine a world of justice and mercy for all people. We can begin to imagine building up a world from the ashes of dismantled systems of white supremacy, sexism, and colonialism. The contemplation to attain love is an invitation to be co-conspirators with God to work toward God’s kingdom here on earth where not only do Black and Brown lives matter, but Black and Brown lives thrive. This final meditation is ultimately a Pentecost prayer.
Before the exercise, Ignatius notes two things:
(1) Love ought to be shown more in deeds than in words.
(2) Love consists of mutual sharing.
This has been a long journey of learning and prayer. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, were our hearts not burning as we realize that Jesus was walking with us? So as we end this journey, let us remember our first steps from the Principle and Foundation.
Human beings are created to love God with their whole heart and soul, essentially by loving and serving their neighbors.