Conforming (phase 2), Baptism and Temptation of Jesus - Three Degrees of the Love of God (step15), session 2

. . . the ultimate purpose of the contemplations of the life of Jesus is to help the companions in their own choices of life . . . . the encounters and events of the life of Jesus always involve a decision for or against him and his way and the direction of that path. At this point instead of continuing meditations of decision in which the companions would deal with the concrete issues of their life, they deepen their conforming to Christ and that alone should become the source of solution for their unsettled questions and provide the criterion of decisions. - Step by Step Retreats, Step 15: Baptism and Temptation of Jesus - Three Degrees of the Love of God, Orientation and introduction

All of this boils down to a longer version of the modern tetragrammaton WWJD?, but there is an important distinction: Ignatius expects us to determine this based on scriptural study and meditation. Too often the WWJD? approach is simply a lofty version of "do good," with "good" defined primarily by our own poorly-formed conscience and underdeveloped understanding.

In every good choice, as far as depends on us, our intention must be simple. I must consider only the end for which I am created, that is the praise of God our Lord and for the salvation of my soul. Hence, whatever I choose must help me to this end for which I am created. I must not subject and fit the end to the means, but the means to the end. - St. Ignatius of Loyola, as translated and quoted by Step by Step Retreats, Step 15: Baptism and Temptation of Jesus - Three Degrees of the Love of God, Orientation and introduction

Too often our approach is backwards: "What outcome do I desire? How can I make my choices so they bring about that outcome? How can I convince myself that these are God's will for me?"  St. Ignatius is reminding us to take the opposite approach in every situation. First, God has revealed his will so very clearly for so many circumstances: it is for us to glorify him with our lives.  Of course, we often don't know what outcome will occur as a result of our actions, and we are all about focusing on the outcome.  So, too often, we make choices so as to facilitate the outcome we desire. Or we think we know what our needs are and how to act so that they are met, and so we trust ourselves more than we do God to provide for them. But if the only outcome that truly matters is the salvation and sanctification of my soul, then the other circumstances over which we so fret and which lead us to choose imperfectly now lose some of their power to induce anxiety and wrong thinking in us.

Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. - Victor Frankl, as quoted by Step by Step Retreats, Step 15: Baptism and Temptation of Jesus - Three Degrees of the Love of God, Orientation and introduction

This is worth contemplating for a while. What, indeed, will I decide is the purpose of my life? Is it merely eudaemonistic/narcissistic self-indulgence, or will it serve a good greater than my own personal well-being?

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain. - Jn 15, 16a

This reminder which St. John provides in the Last Supper discourses would serve the apostles crucially over the course of the next few days and weeks, as they would see their Savior killed and encounter him anew as their resurrected Savior. It serves us well, too, to remember that we are at our finest only when we remember that we are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved (Col 3, 12 etc., as frequently quoted by Fr. Dave) and let that central reality of our lives guide the decisions that we make along the way.

Lots of good stuff in this orientation and introduction!