Dear friends,

Greetings from Bikfaya, Lebanon! Since arriving here in September, along with 11 other Jesuits from 8 other countries, we have begun our tertianship program here by studying the life of St. Ignatius and his first companions, while building community and seeing a bit of the country. Bikfaya is northeast of Beirut, in the mountains and in a traditionally Christian region. We have been able to see parts of the city of Beirut, along with Byblos, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on earth, and the monastery of St. Charbel, where we celebrated Mass in his tomb. It has been an enlivening and enriching time of prayer, learning, and reflection.

Many Catholics in virtually every liturgical context prefer to sit in the back of the church. People have many reasons for doing so. Some are devotional: it can be a sign of humility, or sometimes people sit near an image or statue to which they are particularly devoted. Sometimes its practical – people who have mobility issues, or who want to avoid the direct air conditioning, or think it’s too loud in front or simply arrive late to Mass.

Today’s reading from Isaiah gives us a poetic glimpse of the true meaning of shalom. Shalom, in Hebrew, is not merely peace in the sense of absence of conflict. It is a greeting and a wish – peace be with you.

It is a peace that arises from true reconciliation and cooperation, not just a chilly détente where we agree not to talk about the things that divide us.

A common piece of advice in the business world is to “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Putting in the extra time and effort to present yourself as “management material” often has the very real effect not only others regarding you in a more positive light, but it can also remind you that you are worthy of such respect and trust and should therefore act like it.

We have been celebrating the Ignatian Jubilee year, from the 500th anniversary of the cannonball at the battle of Pamplona in 1521, to the 400th anniversary of his canonization in 1622. And now as we draw to the close of the Jubilee year, it’s time to ask, “what next?”

At the Tower of Babel, the sin of pride and the arrogance of humanity led to the multiplicity of languages and confusion and division of the nations. But just as the passion of Christ heals the original sin of Adam and Eve, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost heals the sin of the Tower of Babel.

“I, John, had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation,race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb…” (Revelations 7:9)

Passion is a funny word. It can mean so many things – excitement, warmth, desire, commitment, or deep emotion. It seems strange, then, that this also the name that we Catholics give to the arrest, trial, suffering, and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1521, Ignatius lead Spanish forces against a rebellion from the kingdom of Navarre, supported by France. This rebel group included the Xavier clan, which fought on the side of Navarre. At this battle, Ignatius was struck by the cannonball which changed the direction of his life. But while Ignatius was experiencing his mystical visions and pioneering the Spiritual Exercises, he was also arrested at least twice by the Inquisition on suspicion of heresy.