Here’s a reflection from my inbox this morning, thanks to IgnatianSpirituality.com.
| On the front porch, perched upon a worn wooden table and leaning against a bowl filled with water bottles, stood the sign: “Delivery Folks: Cold Water. Thank you!” Waiting there in the shade, I marveled at my friend’s kindness. “Kathy, you are so thoughtful!” I said, as she swung open the door. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a little something. They work so hard every day.” She glowed as she recounted how seeing the delivery people happy made her happy. Later that afternoon, I curled up on the couch to read Always Discerning by Joseph Tetlow, SJ. In it, Tetlow proposes a new take on the Examen. He calls it the “Gifts Examen.” |
| Here is the proper matter for the Examen in the twenty-first century: all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Take the first gifts of faith, hope, and love. Spend a day or a week—or a longer time if you are weak in it—practicing that virtue. Then patiently work through wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude (courage), piety, knowledge, and fear of the Lord… But never think that living these virtues is merely of personal interest. “These gifts are meant to renew and build up the Church.” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel, 130) …And wouldn’t the Church in my place and time be wonderfully attractive if all of us went through the week displaying the “fruit of the Spirit,” walking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness, and self-control? |
| I reflected on this sentiment in light of the events earlier in the day. My friend was indeed “displaying the fruit[s] of the Spirit.” Kathy’s love, kindness, and goodness were renewing and building up those who entered her world. It was absolutely, as Tetlow says, “wonderfully attractive.” Kathy’s Spirit-infused compassion and thoughtfulness were changing the world one “Thank you” and one refreshing sip of water at a time. Her seemingly little sign and gesture spoke volumes: You are seen. You are loved. You matter. And isn’t this the same whisper we hear when we really listen in prayer? You are seen. You are loved. You matter. This is how it’s done. This is how we build the kingdom among us: one small gesture at a time. —Excerpted from “Using Our Gifts to Build the Kingdom Among Us” by Rebecca Ruiz |
Keeping the Faith 