You are the Christ

It is truly amazing how Peter can get it so right and then so wrong all in the space of one Gospel passage, Mark 8: 27-35. Answering Jesus question perfectly and then a few moments later to be told ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ But then, isn’t that our story as well? So often, just when I am feeling good about myself in responding to Sandee’s question, I continue on, only to make a mess of things.

Life truly is a story of ups and downs, between moments of clarity and times of stumbling. Just like Peter, we sometimes find ourselves grasping truth in one breath and faltering in the next. The same can happen in my own relationships, especially with Sandee. I might think I've given the perfect response, only to overstep or say something thoughtless a moment later. It’s humbling, a reminder that even in our best efforts, we are still works in progress, constantly needing grace, forgiveness, and the patience to try again.

Recently, we have received two Jesuits priests as guests to our parish. One is an expert on ‘Ignatian Discernment of Spirits’, the interpretation of what St. Ignatius of Loyola called the ‘motions of the soul’. These are interior movements of thoughts, imaginings, emotions, inclinations, desires, feelings, repulsions, and attractions. Spiritual Discernment involves becoming sensitive to these movements, reflecting on them, and understanding where they come from and where they lead us.

Ignatius believed that these interior movements were caused by ‘good spirits’ and ‘evil spirits.’ We want to follow the promptings of a good spirit (You are the Christ) and reject the influence of an evil spirit. Our hearts are pulled between good and evil impulses. To call these ‘spirits’ recognizes the spiritual dimension of this inner struggle. This is why Jesus can tell Peter ‘Get behind me, Satan’. It was a recognition that he was being influenced by an evil spirit.

The feelings stirred up by good spirits he called ‘consolation’ and those by evil spirits ‘desolation’. Consolation is an experience of being impelled to praise, love, and serve God and help others as best as we can. Desolation in contrast, is an experience of the soul in heavy darkness or turmoil. We are assaulted by all sorts of doubts, bombarded by temptations, and mired in self-preoccupations. We are excessively restless and anxious and feel cut off from others.

The key question in interpreting consolation and desolation is:  where is the movement coming from and where is it leading me? By being sensitive to the ‘motions of our soul’ we can avoid being influenced by evil spirits. And when we discern that we are being so influenced we cry out to God for help in overcoming the temptations.

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Friends, I invite you to visit a few of the membership programs on my website. Today, I particularly suggest the Leadership program and the Benedictine program. You can find them on the website link below.

Website Link