28 June 2021
Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr
A key element of Ignatian spirituality is the belief in a God who is always laboring on our behalf. Our God is an active God, and today’s gospel reading seems to confirm this: “The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head,” and again, “Follow me, and let the dead bury the dead.” The God of Life seems to be telling us that there is no time for rest, action is always required!
Nevertheless, we cannot take this passage in isolation. If we do so, we run the risk of falling into stress, anxiety and that ever-so-human tendency to take on too much on our own.
Our God is a God of action, yes. But let us never forget that everything is in his hands, that when we act for the good, we are never alone, it is ultimately Christ who is acting through us. And especially as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus comes to a close, let us not forget his words of love and comfort: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” (Mark 11:28-29)