Jesus challenges the disciples to “Stay Awake,” to be prepared. Through his book, Awareness, Jesuit author Anthony deMello challenges the reader to become aware – to wake up – from those assumptions, concepts, emotions and habits with which we unconsciously live. As we become more aware of these, that is as we become more conscious and intentional, we also grow in freedom to become more who we are meant to be.

Jesus’ describes the “faithful servant” as someone who fulfills who he or she is — persons with the freedom to live as we are meant to be. St. Ignatius establishes the Principle & Foundation as a key underpinning of the Spiritual Exercises. Both Jesus and Ignatius express this hope that, as we become more aware of who we are meant to bepeople who strive to reside in God’s lovewe become more fulfilled and we thrive in freedom and joy.

Fr. Glen Chun, S.J. is a campus ministry chaplain at Loyola University Chicago, IL, as well as the peripatetic minister of the Loyola University Jesuit community.