Newsletter Vol. 1 Issue 43

May 27, 2021

Contemplation to Attain Love

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.

Meditation:

I imagine myself standing before the communion of saints and angels, and God with them.

I ask for the interior knowledge of all that I have received these past weeks, and, stirred to gratitude, that I may love and serve God in all things.

I recall all the gifts I have received in my life: my creation, my talents, my gifts, my relationships, my wonder. I relish in all that God has done for and given to me. I consider what I, in all reason and justice, can offer to God. Then I pray:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and all my will –all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. I now give it back to you. All of it is yours. Do what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.

Then, I consider how God dwells in all creation: in giving life to the plants, sensation to the animals, and intelligence to humans. I then reflect how God dwells in me; giving me life, giving me sensations, giving me intelligence. I am created in the image and likeness of the Divine.

I then pause to reflect how God labors and works in all the creatures of the earth. God is at work in the elements, the plants, the fruit, the cattle.

I consider all good things and gifts that come from God, the Infinite Power: justice and goodness, piety and mercy, love and solidarity. They come upon all of creation like the rays of light come from the Sun or the rains from the clouds.

I consider all these things. I invite the Holy Spirit to enlighten me as to how I can, in my life, serve and love God by serving and loving others.

I spend a few moments speaking with Jesus, telling him all that I have meditated upon. I am at east speaking to him, as one speaks to a close friend. At the end of our conversation, I close with an “Our Father.”

Conclusion:

Thank you to all who have participated in this Discernment Series. We hope that it's helped you and those around you on your faith journey toward racial justice, love, and healing.

We'll be sending out a survey soon that we hope will provide valuable feedback to us as we continue to provide spiritual resources for people of faith related to current, urgent issues like racial justice. Stay tuned for more new Discernment Series from St. Ignatius Parish.

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