Father Vince's Spiritual Reflections

I would like to share with you two Spiritual insights from the life of the late Father General of the Society of Jesus, Pedro Arrupe, S.J. I think this will help your Spiritual Life.

The first gift that Fr. Arrupe gave me was a quote from his life: “More than ever I find myself in the hands of God. This is what I wanted all my life from my youth. But now more than ever there is a difference; the initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound Spiritual experience when I find myself so totally in God’s hands.” This quotation follows Fr. Arrupe’s stroke, which left him bedridden for 10 years. He thought he had control over his life prior to this time. But now he realizes that his life rests in God’s hands. Perhaps that experience could be your experience as you face life’s tasks. You feel God being in control instead of you being in control.

The second gift is the insight in Fr. Arrupe’s understanding of love. Again quoting Fr. Arrupe: “Nothing is more practical than a person finding God, that is, falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”

That is my prayer for you, that you may experience love, a love that will energize you through life in such a way that when we say the kingdom of God in now, that now will be made manifest in your present life situation. My prayer for you is that you grow in awareness that the kingdom of God is realized in your life situation.

Peace and joy always,

Father Vince

Fr. Vince O'Brien, S.J. is the Chaplain for SDC. He can be contacted at: Manresa Hall, 261 City Line Avenue, Merion Station, PA 19066 or (610) 660-1406.