Readings: Jer 20:7-9; Psa 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Luke 14:25-33.
Today is the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. While there are so many ways that one might reflect on the life and spirituality of such a profoundly influential founder and spiritual father, perhaps the most distinctly Ignatian option is to remind ourselves of the necessity of the priority of Christ in all things. Above all else, Ignatius fervently desired to be a companion of Jesus, and to passionately devote his life to the praise, reverence, and service of the Lord.
In the Gospel today, Christ himself explicitly says, “Whoever does not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” This statement from Jesus emphasizes the totality of relationship that the Lord invites us to. We have been created to receive the unfathomable riches of God’s infinite love as daughters, sons, and heirs. But in order to be companions of Jesus, we cannot love, value, or prioritize anything in this life more than relationship with Christ. We have to love Him as He has loved us. We have to give Him everything. We cannot hold anything back.
A cornerstone of Ignatian spirituality is dedicating all that we do each day to the greater glory of God. The teachings of St. Ignatius are meant to help us to hear God’s voice more clearly in even the most ordinary moments of everyday life. They are further intended to guide us as we work to rid ourselves of disordered attachments that can prevent us from fully entering into loving relationship with the Lord. Today, on the Feast of Ignatius, we contemplate how we might strive to prioritize relationship with Christ in our daily lives as we seek to become true companions of Jesus.