Memorial of Saint
Ignatius, priest
(Exodus 34:29-35; Matthew 13:44-46)
At one point Ignatius of Loyola prayed, “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess.” But are liberty and free will
qualities that one can barter? Or is the
saint only expressing metaphorically his desire to subject himself to God as
St. Paul wrote of being God’s “slave”?
It seems that free will is an inalienable gift beyond one’s power to
trade away. Nevertheless, the wise person
would exchange it if she or he could for a share in the Kingdom of God as today’s
gospel describes.
Jesus is explaining the value of the
Kingdom of God (which is to know God Himself).
He says that it is more precious than the costliest items – a choice
piece of land or a handsome pearl. To
procure it one has to make the requisite sacrifices. Like a student desiring to get into Harvard,
the aspirant of the Kingdom must discipline himself or herself to God’s
will. That is, she or he must love as
Jesus teaches.
