500 years after his death, St. Ignatius is globally admired and honored, but not for his military exploits and his loyalty to the King of Spain as he desired. Rather, he is known for God’s work in Him, the true King of Glory.
During his early years, St. Ignatius thirsted for popularity, acclamation, and purpose to crown his ego. Like all of us, he sought to be more deeply known, secure, and loved; he just didn’t know it. When his worldly pursuits were stripped away due to injury, he found himself like one of the fish in today’s Gospel, caught up in God’s net like all the others but separated into the pile of the wicked.
St. Ignatius had a wake-up call and his experience invites us to open our minds and hearts as well. His gift to the world was responding to God’s advances and modeling how to cast wide our nets to receive all that God has to offer.
He left us a comprehensive blueprint on how to unite ourselves to Jesus, the King who truly satisfies. This concept is widely known as “Magis”. Often used to falsely teach young college students to seek excellence for themselves, St. Ignatius’s intention was to teach us how to anchor ourselves more deeply into the mystery of God. His spirituality is centered on seeking more of God, all for His glory, in our daily lives, leaving us fully alive in and with God. His spiritual exercises and prayers have transformed my journey and continually teach me how to make Jesus my one and only King.
It is a humbling consolation that God’s favor extends to every kind of creature, visible and invisible, but especially to His beloved mankind. No matter how far away we are from God, He still casts wide His net to draw us into His Kingdom, even people like Augustine, Ignatius, Mary of Egypt, and many others who wandered far from His heart at times. He still showers His graces upon us to give us the love and admiration that fulfills our deepest longings. Dear brothers and sisters, be not afraid. Cast wide your nets.
500 años después de su muerte, San Ignacio es admirado y honrado en todo el mundo, pero no por sus hazañas militares y su lealtad al Rey de España como él deseaba. Más bien, es conocido por la obra de Dios en Él, el verdadero Rey de la Gloria.
Durante sus primeros años, San Ignacio anhelaba popularidad, aclamación y propósito para coronar su ego. Como todos nosotros, buscaba ser más profundamente conocido, seguro y amado; simplemente no lo sabía. Cuando sus actividades mundanas se vieron despojadas debido a una lesión, se encontró como uno de los peces del Evangelio de hoy, atrapado en la red de Dios como todos los demás, pero separado en el montón de los malvados.
San Ignacio tuvo una llamada de atención y su experiencia nos invita a abrir nuestras mentes y corazones también. Su regalo al mundo fue responder a los avances de Dios y modelar cómo echar nuestras redes mar adentro para recibir todo lo que Dios tiene para ofrecer.
Nos dejó un plan integral sobre cómo unirnos a Jesús, el Rey que verdaderamente satisface. Este concepto es ampliamente conocido como “Magis”. A menudo utilizado para enseñar falsamente a los jóvenes universitarios a buscar la excelencia para sí mismos, la intención de San Ignacio era enseñarnos cómo anclarnos más profundamente en el misterio de Dios. Su espiritualidad se centra en buscar más de Dios, todo para Su gloria, en nuestra vida diaria, dejándonos completamente vivos en y con Dios. Sus ejercicios espirituales y oraciones han transformado mi camino y me enseñan continuamente cómo hacer de Jesús mi único Rey.
Es un humilde consuelo saber que el favor de Dios se extiende a todo tipo de criatura, visible e invisible, pero especialmente a Su amada humanidad. No importa cuán lejos estemos de Dios, todavía extiende Su red para atraernos a Su Reino, incluso a personas como Agustín, Ignacio, María de Egipto y muchos otros que a veces se alejaron de Su corazón. Él todavía derrama Sus gracias sobre nosotros para darnos el amor y la admiración que satisfacen nuestros anhelos más profundos. Queridos hermanos y hermanas, no tengan miedo. Echen sus redes mar adentro.
Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!
Feature Image Credit: Waldemar, unsplash.com/photos/white-and-blue-net-3NcRmm88PbY?utm_content=creditShareLink&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash
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