In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius suggests imagining an influential person and their qualities. Today we may think of Pope Francis, St. Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, a loving family member or good friend. Then, Ignatius invites us to imagine someone even greater: Jesus Christ. There was a power within Jesus that people recognized. Jesus drew a variety people towards him—sick, wealthy, hungry, Pharisees, fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots to name a few. And in noticing Jesus’ qualities, I find myself not so different from these people, including being drawn to him too! As I move closer to Jesus, I also become more aware of:
—my own need for healing;
—the needs of my family, friends, and city;
—a call to continue his mission by following his teachings and example.
Who is Jesus calling you to reach out to for him today?
—Michael Tedone, S.J., a Jesuit of the California Province, is studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.