Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
From today’s gospel reading we find the well-known saying that house divided cannot stand. The truth of this saying is self-evident in that it is obvious that an institution or a society cannot be pulled into separate directions. For Ignatius, that common sense of direction was summarized by his expression: “A union of hearts and minds.” If we consider that both institutions and individuals are driven by specific values and the structures to support those values, a contest of values will only lead to chaos. That is why Ignatius considered diversity to be “the mother of all discord.” A diversity of fundamental values only leads to division. However, a diversity of means which reflect the varied gifts of the human community that are focused on the singular goal of union with God, that understanding of diversity Ignatius did not presume to be divisive. Rather, it reflected the dignity of each human.