Catholic First - Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola:

"Third Rule. The third: With cause, as well the good Angel as the bad can console the soul, for contrary ends: the good Angel for the profit of the soul, that it may grow and rise from good to better, and the evil Angel, for the contrary, and later on to draw it to his damnable intention and wickedness."

In this the rythem of consolation and desolation seen in the psalm and Jesus being driven into the wilderness meets the theme of temptation and sin head on. While desolation is a tool of God, where he hides himself from us, a tool that we all expereince even second Adam, it is part and parcel to temptation.

I don't think that it is only about testing and trying, but the temptation surely comes when we are in the wilderness of desolation.

Ivan Kramskoy: Christ in the Wilderness

CGFA- Ivan Kramskoy: Christ in the Wilderness

What does baptism make you do?

Am I afraid that my baptism in the name of the Christ, or baptism in the Spirit of God will force me out into the wilderness? Why do I sit comfortable in my office writing this? Lord let these weeks to Easter be a time for seeking your face and the fulness of your spirit in my life and church!

The Dark Night (Lent A1)

This week's texts read like the points of a sermon already. From temptation and the first sin to the promise of forgiveness to second Adam and his temptation. What a rich sequence.

I am learning about lent. All I knew growing up was from the perspective of a church that does not observe lent. The concept of entering 40 days in the wilderness with Christ catches my attention. We prepare for the joy of the resurrection with a time of physical and spiritual desolation. We examine our hearts through the lens of the darkness of our human situation. Perhaps we may even experience the dark night of the soul.

This is where we begin.

3 2:1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
32:2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
32:3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

Selah-stop and meditate on this. Happiness contrasted with the wasting, groaning, heaviness of God's hand. This is also grace, in the middle of the dark night.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Selah-you forgave me. Lord help me to be faithful to you and your people as I lead us into a time of meditation and reflection, that we may see through the darkness the presence of your hand and the hope of salvation.