Tuesday 7th of October
“the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.”
Romans 6:20-23
St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order, was a soldier before he became a priest. In 1521, he was seriously injured when he was hit by a cannon ball. He spent some of his recovery time day dreaming about heroic deeds, first as a worldly knight, and later as a saintly figure serving Christ. He noticed that the worldly dreams left him feeling empty, while the spiritual dreams brought him deep peace and satisfaction. He used his experiences to develop his Spiritual Exercises that have helped millions of people, including Pope Francis, who was a Jesuit.
Where do we put our intellectual and spiritual energy? Are we still slaves to sin, imagining honours, riches and pleasures for ourselves? Or do we genuinely say to God in our prayers, Father, may your will be done? If we invest ourselves in the world of flesh, we will receive a return of death and corruption. But if we follow God, we will receive the fruits of holiness and of eternal life in Christ Jesus.