At the beginning of the so-called “Second Week” of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, he asks the one doing them —“the retreatant”— to contemplate the Trinity. He invites the retreatant to listen to a conversation between the community and the union of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity, he narrates, is gazing down on the earth
and seeing humanity in desperate need. The Trinity notices how humanity “wounds, kills and goes to hell”. Noticing the state of affairs on earth, the Trinity enter into a conversation and decide that they, as a community, will “work for the redemption of the human race” by “bringing about the most holy incarnation” (Spiritual Exercises #107-108). The Trinity decides to send the Son to come and live amongst us and show us an alternate way - the way of the community of the Trinity.
St. Ignatius invites us, among other things, to give gratitude to the Trinity for their willingness, in Jesus, to come and live among us as one of us.
This meditation also invites us to contemplate our own life in family or community. The life of the Trinity is a life of mutual love and support. So often, we want to be good news to the world, but we know that our own family or (religious) community relationships are not ones of love.
The Father sends the Son and later the Spirit because this community of love wants to share its love with humanity.
As we contemplate the Holy Trinity this week, let us reflect on the quality of our family or community relationships. Are we truly investing in creating families or communities of love? Does our personal experience of familial or community love empower us to share it with others, mirroring the Trinity’s life we are invited to partake in?
Remember, we can only give what we possess.
Today, take a moment to reflect on your potential contribution - wherever you reside - to fostering a family or community of mutual love and support. What actions might you need to take? Consider how your personal encounters with love can equip you to become a beacon of hope for others, just as the Trinity’s love has illuminated our lives.
Reflections by Russell Pollitt SJ
