Daily word, 30 Oct 19

30^th Wednesday of the Year (30 Oct 2019)

Rm 8. 26-30; Ps 13; Lk 13. 22-30

Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J., Full Spiritual Exercises

God’s Purpose

Now and again I imagine St. Ignatius of Loyola learning at the University of Paris. It was a flagship Catholic university with the best curriculum available. Ignatius knew that because he had studied in other universities with curricula that were not stellar. Paris allowed Ignatius to access his day’s finest resources.

As he accessed them and learned I imagine his days in Paris confirmed what the Trinity lovingly, patiently, gracefully had taught Ignatius before he entered university halls. The Trinity, Ignatius recounted, had given him “an elucidation so bright that all…things seemed new to him.”¹ That enlightenment is a gift not the fruit of effort; and Ignatius welcomed us into a universe of gifts.

Sharing life with this generous God is our goal. Our triune God eternally desires it for us. It is St. Paul’s the good; even now God works with all things for it. Some scoff at that—and not only today; ancients did as well. Yet ancient, pious pagan philosophers defended this divine desire. St. Paul was not alone.² I imagine Ignatius in Paris feeling confirmed by St. Paul’s words to Roman Christians he had yet to meet. Both Paul and Ignatius viewedthe big picture. Both experienced God working with them for good.

Paul had experienced Christ Jesus, the dead one raised to indestructible life, setting Paul apart for his unique life. Christians of Rome shared their experiences of Christ; Paul built on their shared experience: God works all things together toward the Good, the goal toward which each person and all creation moves. The Good in Ignatian language is “life with God forever”³—forever has begun with each present moment.

This long view does not include, as my teacher put it, “the incidental details of lost coins or school exams.”⁴ This long view cries, God is with us, for us no matter what! That is far from the distorted way some Christians read this: namely, God will make everything turn out right. We know and have experienced things do go awry, even terribly. Yet God is with and for us. What happens to us in our wounded world is not God’s purpose. God’s purpose unites us to God’s people, frees us to discover our true selves and gifts us with a share in God’s life forever.

How? someone asks. The primal one, Christ Jesus, purposefully set apart—what predestined means—purpose-fully set apart to heal creation, is the icon-image of healed humanity. The nearer we stay to Jesus, the more like him we allow ourselves to become, the more healed, freed we are, even when contrary to appearances. Keeping close to Jesus for our healing and wholeness in no way changes that his healing, wholeness are gift.5

About this Ss. Paul and Ignatius speak with one voice: God is on our side not because we earn God; sharing God’s life in part now, and eventually fully, is God’s gift. This divine gift is God’s mercy, God’s compassion; it is God lovingly desiring us. Nor is it reserved for a few because God lovingly creates without reserve. Or as Jesus expressed it: People will come from east and west, from north and south and will recline at [God’s banquet] table. —Imagine that!

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1. Fr. Joseph N. Tylenda, S.J. A Pilgrims Journey (Kindle Locations 952-953). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.
2. Epictetus, Of Providence. Boethius—bridge between ancient and medieval philosophies: “God, the Creator of all nature, directs and disposes all things for good” (Consolation of Philosophy, Book IV at paragraph 134.
3. Spiritual Exercises, [23].
4. Luke Timothy Johnson, Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary. Smyth & Helwys, 2o12, p. 141. Kindle Edition.
5. Paul was emphatic in Romans 3.24, literally: are justified by [God's] grace as a gift....

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Wiki-images by Douglas James Butner Enlightening Sunset CC BY-SA 4.0; by Carole Raddato Mosaic floor portion CC BY-SA 2.0