That’s what the angels were singing on Christmas morning, or lyrics to that effect:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.” 

     Maybe that Nativity scene so inspired St. Ignatius Loyola to cause him to choose AMDG as the Jesuit motto.  We do know that one of the first meditations Ignatius assigns in his Spiritual Exercises is an imaginative reading of the birth of Christ.  He asks the retreatant to read the Christmas story from Luke.

     As a way of getting to know Christ better and to draw closer to him, Ignatius encourages the use of creative imagination to picture ourselves at the stable, with Mary and Joseph.  Perhaps to imagine we are one of the shepherds, a servant, or another traveler.

     To meditate in this way is called contemplation – “spending time with” the Gospel passage − so to draw profit from the experience and deepen our encounter with Christ.  Throughout one’s retreat, Ignatius guides the person to make such contemplative meditations with other Gospel passages: like the call of the first disciples, the Sermon on the Mount, the miracles, the healings, the carrying of the Cross, Calvary, and the Resurrection accounts.  All of the Gospels offer rich opportunities to follow Christ and become like Him. 

     So, this week, you too can imagine yourself that night on the hillside when the angelic hosts above proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest.”  Then try to imagine what such a spectacle would lead you to do next:  might you go help someone?  forgive a friend? Or maybe the angels’ hymn would lead you to work for real peace.  May the readings, songs, and meditations this Christmas season help us to all become people of good will.  Blessings of the season to you all.

Fr. Patrick Fairbanks, S.J., Pastor