Thoughts, Prayers, and Action: Get to the Gate

Teaching the idea of “choice” to anyone can be a daunting task. Ignatian discernment, St. Ignatius of Loyola’s idea of using facts, prayer, and reflection as to whether a choice can bring you closer or farther from God, can be an extremely useful tool. It leads to action. Ideally, it can propel you through the “gate” from being stuck in the “thoughts and prayers” phase to informed, reflective choices that include God’s active presence. 

All of the readings today allude to the imagery of Jesus as not only a shepherd but the gate from which we should ultimately pass through. In the first reading, Peter tells us that we need to “Repent and be baptized.” In the second reading from 1 Peter, we are encouraged to continue seeking and doing good, even if we suffer like Christ, along with another call for repentance: “For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” Finally, in John’s gospel, Jesus is teaching the Pharisees and uses the imagery of sheep only listening to their shepherd. He also says, “I am the gate.”

All of the readings call for a choice. Sin happens. Jesus calls us to reflect and repent. How do our choices call us to Jesus’ gate, propelling us father from God? Or, do our choices bring us further away? 

I’d invite you to consider the process you use for making decisions. Does it allow time to reflect and pray? Does it propel you to informed action? Learning this can start at any age! To my four year-old, this currently looks like encouraging him to briefly pause, even for a nanosecond, to think about what he is choosing. Is the choice he is considering safe, healthy, and generally good? To my fourteen year-old, the discernment involved in her bigger life choices often now require more time, input, and reflection. To me, a 44 year-old, I try to build upon this with added prayer and reflection. How can we all direct and inform our actions to not only choose the gate but walk through it with intention?