Every saint has a past, every sinner a future.
Before he was a saint, Ignatius of Loyola was a soldier, diplomat, egoist, and womanizer driven by the desire for fame, fortune, and recognition.
Then, on the field of battle in 1521, he got a cannonball to the leg that nearly took it off.
In the blink of an eye, the arrogant, pompous, and worldly 18-year-old was humbled.
His military career was over just a year after it began.
He was carted away to recover what was left of himself and limped for the rest of his life.
It was during this time in recovery that he moved beyond the WORLDLY by reading The Lives of the Saints, recommended by his beloved sister-in-law, Magdalena.
But must we all meet such a dramatic fate to come to Christ?
The topic of Masculine Surrender was top of mind in my bi-weekly men’s group this week.
Among several insights, we concluded how diametrically opposed Christian Masculinity is to current trends of modern masculinity. The Christian man is called to imitate Christ in his most masculine - The agony in the garden and his surrender to the will of The Father. The Sacrifice. We use John 13:16 to reflect on this directly: “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master.” If Christ, therefore, is master of our hearts, how can we truly be men without surrendering to The Father as he did?
The language of the Father is silence.
God doens’t scream. He whispers.
When was the last time you heard his voice?
Do you even know how to ask?
How to listen?
Painting: The Conversion of Ignatius by Spanish artist Raúl Berzosa