Coffee Talk Thursday: Ignation Contemplation

The more I encounter Roman Catholic teaching, especially from the Jesuit order I am beginning to appreciate the strengths I'm seeing along with a growing appreciation for the Roman Catholic's spiritual journey.  My church has had a Catholic Priest come in and teach on cultivating intimacy with Christ.  One such spiritual practice is the Ignation Contemplation.... encountering Christ in the scripture.  Below is from a hand out I received at the talk given by the Priest leading this discussion.



Ignation Contemplation ~ Encountering Christ in Scripture 

The Principle and Foundation

The human person is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to attain salvation.  

Things on the face of the earth are created for human persons, to help them achieve the end for which they were created. 

From this it follows that a person is to use these things as much as they help one reach this purpose.  A person ought to rid oneself of any thing so far as it hinders one from reaching this purpose. 

For this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent from all created things wherever we have a choice.  So that, on our part, we should not want health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, long rather than short life, and so in all the rest.  Rather, we are to desire and choose only what is most conducive to the end for which we are created. 

~based on #23 if the Spiritual Exercise

The Principle and Foundation invites me to:

~Evaluate the things, relationships and situations in life in light of the purpose of my life. 

~Let go of all that hinders me from God.  Embrace all that leads me to God.

Inordinate Attachment - 

Something that leads me away from God and the purpose of my life and yet something to which I hold.  It may be a possession, relationship, attitude, or behavior. 

Indifference (Ignation Indifference) - living with a balanced heart.  Being free enough to embrace that which leads me closer to God and the purpose of my life.  

Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.~Mt 13:45-46 

Questions for Reflection
~Is there anything in my life that draws me away from God?
~Is there anything in life that I place before God?
~Is there anything that is not healthy and yet is difficult for me to let go?
~What would it be like to ask Jesus to give me courage and grace to let go of these things?
~What is the ultimate purpose of human life?
~What in life leads me closer to God and attaining the purpose of my life?
~What nourishes and fulfills me in life?
~What encourages or enables me to live our my vocation more fully?
~What would it be like to ask Jesus to help me to embrace these things more fully? 

To ask Jesus to help me to embrace these things more fully...

I know this isn't exactly a coffee talk discussion but if you ever have coffee with me it is possible to get into one of these intense conversations.  I like to discuss these things.  I like talking about spirituality and any conversation that may enrich my life.  Daily I ask Jesus to help me embrace what gives life, what honors God, and the good things that God has for me. How can one really receive the love of the father if they're too broken to receive?  How can one fully receive the love of the father if what is in our possession hinders us from receiving His absolute love for us?  If you hadn't guessed it by now it's more of receiving love then it is about dissecting the theology and every words spoken, not that truth isn't important....


...but we can have all the truth in the world but if not love then we have nothing.