Image: Ignatius Loyola window (https://shipoffools.com).

‘A Josephite commitment to anyone at risk of shame or harm’

Andrew Collis
Advent 4, Year A
Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25

Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish reformer and founder of the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits).

The spirituality he developed places great emphasis on the affective life: the use of imagination in prayer, cultivation of godly desires and generous service.

One of the rules of the society is called the discernment of spirits, a means of discerning, amid everyday events, good/healthy influences, patterns – life-giving, wise … from not-so healthy spirits.

When I was most unwell last month, I came to understand this rule … (Ignatius, too, underwent conversion while convalescing).

Alone in the manse, an inner voice whispered, “Lock the door and turn out the lights, go to bed and you’ll feel better in the morning …”

In other words, work it out (by) yourself.

Another voice urged, “Reach out for help – make an appointment with the medical centre, call a friend …”

In retrospect it may seem a simple choice, but in the moment, it was not so easy.

“Lock the door” might symbolise the individualism we know so well … competitive, fearful, immature …

And “lock the gate” resonates eerily this week … as sign of religious fundamentalism, disconnection, even superiority, militant mistrust … the ensuing violence, pain and grief …

In asking for help, I learned something about the goodness of the public health system, medical professionals … GP, dentist, nurses … also the goodness of family members, including church family …

A goodness awaiting activation, inviting action …

In calling a friend, in seeking support, I learned something about myself – in short, my capacity for love … I received myself anew (again, a wonderful way to imagine the Eucharist, what is happening in holy communion).

The good spirit leads me into relationships of trust and care … respect, gentleness, passion for healing and wholeness … the safety of friendship and love. “Ignatian spirituality,” Fr Neil Vaney says, “invites us into the sacrament of friendship which is a sacrament of God’s presence in the world.”

The good spirit leads us, with Joseph (of both old and new testaments), and in the company/society of Jesus … to a (messy) place of dreams and liberation, a place “where teardrops fall” (Bob Dylan) …

Jesus refers to a kindom of God. We might call it creation …

Relationships entail co-creativity – musicians understand it so well – creating, making music with another, with others (as Joanna and the Cleftomaniacs demonstrated so joyfully on Thursday night) … building capacity for understanding/feeling, for improvisation and for what Ignatius regards “lasting delight” …

Co-creativity is another word for faith – the divine-human miracle … Nativity, Christmas.

Blessings upon our Futures Task Group and its work in the name of co-creativity … seeking new partnerships in ministry … toward sustainable and delightful co-existence.

Blessings upon all our families …

Let us pray, deeply grateful for one another … for our congregation-community-garden … for our presbytery and all our neighbours, especially this week for Murray, whose rainbow flag recalls a technicolour dream-coat, a Josephite commitment to anyone at risk of shame or harm …

… for the Good Spirit in many countries and cultures as Aunty Pearl invites us to discern the presence … for the courage and grace to acknowledge our needs, to ask for help and to engage gently and with passion for the common good. Amen.