What Matters Most

I would love to hear these words spoken to me: You have remained faithful to what matters most, and open to where God would have you give to others from His fullness living in you.

So, what does matter most? A question to ask ourselves. A question to ask God.

This summer I’m on retreat–studying and praying through the Ignatian Exercises —with four dear souls who are also interested in wrestling with this question. The theme of the retreat is Belonging to God, to creation, and to one another. Pope Francis has described our times as “a crisis of non-belonging.” So many people don’t feel that they belong to God or even believe in God, don’t have a sense of being a part of creation, or sadly, have sunk into the loneliness of not feeling connected to a supportive community. 

What is God asking of us? Perhaps we start by asking Him to reveal to us what matters most. I believe that He has left us many answers in His creation, in Sacred Scripture, and in one another. I’ll share a few thoughts to hopefully spur your imagination. I encourage each of us to spend time pondering and praying with this, and then follow Jesus’ mother’s instruction: “Do whatever he tells you.”

Undertake nothing without consulting God. —St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius spoke of three movements in spiritual growth—awareness, understanding, and action. To be aware I must pay attention to what is going on around me and inside of me, and learn to listen well. When I listen for the voice of God, I grow in awareness. When I’m steeped in the mind of God through reading Scripture and listening to wise counsel, I grow in understanding. When I allow God to heal and transform me, I am free to take Godly action—free to be me, and free to love and serve God and others. Life is a gift. God gives each of us treasures to be shared with others.

Some things I consider when asking myself what matters most in this one life I’m given to live:

• Don’t place my value in things of this world. Remember that Mystery abounds. God’s grace is always flowing invisibly.
• Ask God to quiet my life with moments for listening to God’s voice in my heart.
• Consider the value of an uncluttered life and an uncluttered heart.
• Say “no” to create space for a good quality “yes”.
• Resist worldliness and depend on grace. I am weak and God is strong—like the children’s song Jesus Loves Me.
• Use my time and attention for the greater things—more time for prayer and for service.

We can grow in patience, understanding, and trust through perseverance in prayer for our loved ones.
—St. Monica

• Keep in mind that what I value shapes how I behave.
• Let God fill me with awe and wonder—every day.
• Remember that Jesus kept his heart focused on the Father’s love and the needs of others, not on possessions.
• Consider the ways of Jesus—forgiveness, reverence for one another, mutual support. I am to live in such a way as to help others see their God-given dignity.

Heart of Jesus, make my heart more like yours.

• Ask for the grace to live life from a place of trust.
• Believe that both God and creation are for the common good. They are meant for us all.

Ignatius sets the stage for his Exercises with something he calls the Principle and Foundation. You could say that this was his answer to what matters most. Here is a little taste of it:

The goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response to love allows God’s life
to flow into us without limits…
Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads
to God’s deepening his life in me.
—St. Ignatius of Loyola

• Remembering the greater cause of why we are doing what we are doing is one of life’s most demanding difficulties.

While creation is still in its summertime glory, let’s look and listen for God’s answers to the questions that matter most.

For those who would like a deeper dive, may I suggest:

*First Belong to God—on Retreat with Pope Francis by Austen Ivereigh

*This summer I have been reading Let Us Dream—the path to a better future by Pope Francis which thoughtfully addresses the topic of what matters most.

Photo credit: Cathy Raney, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas