Sunday word, 06 Oct 19

27^th Sunday of the Year (06 Oct 2019)

Hbk 1. 2-3; 2. 2-4; Ps 95; 2Tm 1. 6-8, 13-14; Lk 17. 5-10

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

Two Roles

Qumran was home to a sectarian group of Jews that separated themselves in the desert. They devoted themselves to live torah, the desire of God for the world. They lived in the world yet not part of it, distinctly sensing they lived torah, the divine wisdom. Their steadfast loyalty allowed them to live wholeheartedly for God.

Their commentary on Prophet Habbakuk’s conviction, the just one shall live by steadfast loyalty was key: to live by faith concerns all those who observe the Law in the House of Judah, whom God will deliver from the House of Judgement because of their suffering and because of their steadfast loyalty in the Teacher of Righteousness,¹ their founder.

That is an illuminating window on another community in the same century in the same locale: the Jesus-movement of Christian communities. Christians’ steadfast loyalty—faith—had become personal trust in their founder, Messiah Jesus whom they experienced as raised from death and more powerfully alive than he had been on earth: he lived in the very presence of God.

Personal trust operates in Ignatius’ foundational principle. It offers two roles: our triune God creating and gifting; and our coming to desire God’s desires for us. Our role sets aside what limits us welcoming and living from God’s desires. Our personal trust operates when we open space² in our lives for God. So it is in other relationships: people affect us when we open and welcome them. Our triune God entrusts us with all creation, desiring we enjoy it and care for it. God respects our freedom to open space for God or decline to open. To open space for God to act for our good opens the door onto Ignatian spirituality.

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1. QpHabbakuk commentary on Habbakuk 2.4b.
2. Annemiek van Campen, “The Mystical Way of Images and Choice,” The Way Supplement 103 (2002), p. 11.

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Wiki-images by: Habakkuk and God, Miniature PD-US