Stand in Awe Rather Than Judgment

July 31st is the Feast Day of St. Ignatius of Loyola. As a way to celebrate his life and remember his mission, I recommend two books by Father Gregory Boyle. As he included in the introduction to his book Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship, he wrote, "There is a regular infusion of Ignatian spirituality: being a son of Ignatius myself, all the stories of my life get filtered through this Jesuit lens" (p. 5).

About ten years ago, I had the good fortune of hearing Father Boyle speak at Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago to a standing room only crowd. He spoke about Homeboy Industries, the gang-intervention program he started in Los Angeles which he describes in his first book, Tattoos on the Heart.

In his second book, Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship, Father Boyle shares stories of former gang members as they work at Homeboy Industries and live their lives filled with both challenges and joy. Below are three quotes from this book that call on us to be present, refrain from judgment and anticipate the good.

"Ignatius of Loyola invites us to find God in all things. And he means all things. Grace is indeed everywhere" . (p. 36)

"The ultimate measure of health in any community might well reside in our ability to stand in awe at what folks have to carry rather than in judgment of how they carry it" (p. 51).

"Discovering the holy in all things is indeed a process. It is also an impulse, like smiling, which does not await the arrival of joy, but actually precedes and hastens it. Being alert to the sacred in our midst is a choice that gets more meaningful as we practice it" (p. 40).

May we honor St. Ignatius on his Feast day and on all days, by listening to each person, appreciating others and anticipating joy.