Within the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola is a meditation on two strategies under two leaders [136-148].
One strategy is that of Lucifer, the enemy of humankind, who entices us to seek riches, honour, and pride, and all that comes from focusing on these things.
The other strategy is
that of Christ our Lord, who invites us to join with him in humility, free from the trappings that lead us away from God.
The scripture readings of this week have spoken to the heart of what it means to live a life focused on Jesus’ way, which offers us freedom from the burdens of worldly baggage. Jesus offers a life that leads to faith, hope and love. Jesus does not wait for us to prove we are eligible for such a privileged
life. Jesus invites us to come as we are, and will show us how to live fully in union with God.
This is, of course, a journey. The more we draw alongside Jesus, the more we notice those little idols we have collected along the way – power, status, possessions, careers, friendships – all the things we have valued more highly than God.
God sees how we stumble under the weight
of the many things we believe we ought to control and accumulate. That is precisely why, in love, God sent Jesus. We are to live in union with Jesus, who helps us to recognise what we should lay down as unnecessary, and what we should surrender to him to carry.
Are you feeling overwhelmed, overburdened or stretched too thinly?
Has life lost its joy, or perhaps you have not discovered as
yet what living with joy is like?
Are you longing for something more that you cannot really name?
Perhaps today Jesus is asking you to be gentle with yourself by inviting you to sift through your burdens and responsibilities, your hopes and dreams, together with him.
Reflections by Cherie-Lynn van der Merwe
