21 February 2023

21 February 2023

Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Recently, I had dinner with a renowned professor, and she loves to go around the table asking all the Jesuits questions about philosophy and theology. She also is not afraid to quiz us scholastics on basic theological trivia such as the fruits of the Holy Spirit or the seven deadly sins. If you have any profound questions, she can answer them cogently within seconds as if she were reading the answer from an encyclopedia. So some, including myself at times, feel intimidated by her breadth of knowledge. Sometimes, I feel it might be better just to remain silent and feign wisdom rather than speak and blow my cover. I wonder if the disciples felt this type of intimidation around Jesus. After Jesus portends his death, the Gospel reads that the disciples “did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him” (Mark 9:32). I’m sure they did not want to look foolish by asking a lousy question or showing that they could not understand what Jesus was saying.

            St. Ignatius invites us to converse with Jesus as one friend chats with another. We may have various images of Jesus: as a judge, a boss, or an intimidating professor. But Ignatius welcomes us to see and interact with Jesus as a friend. We can be afraid in our relationship with God to ask about things that we do not understand. For example, I might not understand what is going on in the world, with those I live with, or even within my own soul. However, I can always ask Jesus about it, and I do not need to be afraid. He’s always kind to his friends. Is there something that I’m worried about inquiring from Jesus? Do not be afraid to start a conversation.