“Far More than Parables” - Sermon for January 19, 2020

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we take a special look at someone who also embodied the promotion of justice and deep spirituality - Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Rev. Tom describes how the fame-loving young Íñigo had his life undone and reformed by what has become known as a "cannonball moment." Severely injured in battle, Ignatius turned from his military career to a long period of rigorous asceticism, praying for hours in a cave and begging on the streets in Catalonia. It was this time that spiritually prepared Ignatius to be a great worker for Christ and founder of the Jesuits. As Rev. Tom explains, this was like the time when a sower sows his seeds onto the path, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. He does not know what is happening deep under the ground to decide which plants grow into abundance, which mustard seeds will burst forth as the greatest of shrubs. He must trust that God is working through the good works, to bring forth life from unexpected beginnings. Likewise, we must trust God to use the dark times of our lives to build, within the deep secret areas of our lives, a spiritual practice that brings abundant life - to ourselves and to others. (Bible reading - Mark 4:1-12, 21-25, 30-34)