I am left wondering about Zebedee. We are not told how he felt when his sons just up and left him. As a parent, I would be horrified and devastated if my children just left me in this way without so much as an explanation or request for advice and support.
Did Zebedee have any say in the matter? Did he support their decision? Was a
thought spared for the family business and that Zebedee would be left to “run the show”? There were hired men involved, too; what of them?
In the Spiritual Exercises, Saint Ignatius Loyola explains that our main purpose is to be and do as God has created us, to bring praise and glory to God and for our soul to be saved. Ignatius invites us to be “indifferent, without any inordinate attachment” to do so. This is so
that we would not “be more inclined or disposed to accept the object in question than to relinquish it, not to give it up than to accept it.”
For Saint Ignatius, his life was about following what he “perceived as being for the glory and praise of God our Lord” and for the salvation of his soul. (Sp Exx 179)
We can commend James and John for their faith. They, too,
were “indifferent” and “without any inordinate attachment” and left behind a loved one, their father, and security to follow Jesus and live according to God’s plan. They took a considerable risk, not knowing what was in store for them, but based their choice on what they discerned was God’s will for them.
The challenge for us is to have an attitude of indifference and to be free from any inordinate attachment so that we can follow
God’s plan for us, bring praise and glory to God and receive the grace of salvation. Which direction do you sense to be more to the glory and praise of God? Will you turn this way today?
Reflections by Gillian
Hugo
