Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Scripture:
Romans 4:20-25
Luke 12:13-21
Reflection:
When I look at creation I cannot help but think that there has to be something more than just what we have here on earth. From the fall leaves (the few colors we get in Texas), to the expansive ocean to the Grand Canyon, there is so much of God’s grandeur around us. I am constantly in awe of how much God has graced us, and how His eternal glory reflects in all of these things.
We read in the scripture that He promises us eternal life, if we leave what we have behind and follow him, not to rely on earthly possessions. We are taught not to put our full trust in things of this world, but of the next. To unite ourselves to Christ we must die to this life of dependence on possessions. We are called to trust in God’s promise, just as Abraham did, of eternal life.
On that same note, are we keeping our own promises to God? We make many promises to and in front of Him in the sacraments and probably on a daily basis. He has promised us eternal life, has given us new life and loves us unconditionally. Are we promising Him our whole selves and fulfilling that promise?
Fulfilling that promise can be as easy as doing the routine things in our everyday lives and following Him. If we are attentive enough, we will see and notice Him on our own, as St. Therese of Lisuex put it, "little way".
We can see God’s promises all around us, through the love of another, through creatioon and so on. We are called to not doubt, but hope and believe in these promises and to devote ourselves to His will. I challenege you to take a look at your routine this week, and make an effort to see God’ grace in every small thing that you do. If we recognize His grace, we can better understand His promise, and devote ourselves to Him.
" I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the limits of the earth" – St. Ignatius of Antioch
Kim Valdez is the Pastoral Associate at Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas.