"Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God." 1Jn 4:1
Discernment of Spirits, especially since St Ignatius of Loyola wrote so eloquently about them in the 16th century and the Second Vatican emphasized the need to read the sign of the times when deciding how best to live and spread the Gospel, is a foundationally important skill for every Christian.
St Ignatius insisted that his followers understand that both consolation and desolation come to every one and can move believers towards or away from God. Sometimes consolation comes from a good spirit, especially when we are struggling to live with integrity under difficult life circumstances, but consolation when we are leading a sinful life is from an evil spirit and we must struggle against it. Appearing like an angel, evil spirits make sure that we stop seeking deep transformation by "consoling" us with hollow comforts. Desolation, on the other hand, is often the work of an evil spirit trying to dissuade a faith seeker from the light of God's way, and the work of a good spirit when we refuse to listen deeply to the Gospel.
It is often important to have help and guidance when we are discerning how best to respond to desolation and consolation. Finding and listening to a spiritual companion can be difficult, but for those wanting to know how to go the extra mile for God, it is often a necessity. Years ago I learned an important Latin phrase. Nemo judex in causa sua. No one is a judge in his or her own case. Asking someone else for help in discernment frees our decision making from the fears we all have that are rooted, not in God but in a spirit that wants to block our path to God.
Today, pray in gratitude for those who have already helped you on the road to a deeper faith.
Has desolation ever, in the long run, been a blessing for you?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please be discreet in your comments. I will monitor the comments, and only exclude those that are patently offensive.