26 September 2018 – Wednesday of the 25th week of ordinary time – Proverbs 30:5-9; Luke 9:1-6

     The author of Proverbs tells the Lord that he wants neither poverty or riches, that he only asks that the Lord provide him with the food that he needs each day.  Then in the Gospel from Luke, we hear about Jesus sending out his disciples on their journey as missionaries to the world.  He tells them travel lightly, to take not a sack, or food, or money, or an extra tunic – they will find their needs fulfilled as they go on their journey.  Those are two very minimalist, humble attitudes in our Scripture readings today. 

         This message is so much different from what our culture tells us – we need that new car or new piece of technology or whatever is new on the market.  We want more and we want it now.  The cell phone that we bought just a year ago and that seemed so stylish is now out of date – we've got to have the new model.  It is so easy for us to forget that the things of this world are just temporary compared to what really matters.  We need to constantly ask ourselves: how are we striving toward those values and those things in life that are part of God's eternal kingdom? 

         The spirit of today's readings is reflected in a prayer written by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, back in the 16th century.  This prayer is called a Suscipe, which comes from the Latin word “to receive.”  Suscipe includes the concept of both receiving and taking up.  Christ offered himself to the Father on the cross and his offering was not only received by the Father, but it was taken up by the Father, as shown by Christ’s resurrection.  Reflecting upon the readings today called to mind this Suscipe prayer of St Ignatius, which is included in additional material accompanying his 4 weeks of spiritual exercises.   Ignatius writes: 

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,

my memory, my understanding,

and my entire will,

All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

that is enough for me.

         May we rely on the Lord for our needs, for our daily bread.  May the things of this world not keep us from God's heavenly kingdom.