As we enter the Third Week of Advent, the church focuses on justice, not merely a human understanding of fairness, but the deep ordering of creation that God alone can accomplish. This is the justice longed for since the beginning of time and still yearned for in our world today.
In the Ignatian tradition, we can pause to see ourselves situated within God’s great story. The story of a divine plan slowly unfolding throughout human time. We are invited to imagine: What does it mean that God has been preparing for Jesus from the very beginning? What does it mean that the Father’s plan for justice began the moment humanity fell? And, How does this divine plan connect to our lives?
From the first pages of scripture, we find a God who does not abandon, even when humanity turns away from Him. He begins a rescue with the story of salvation that traces its way through flawed but faithful ancestors. These men and women may have had divided hearts and imperfect lives, yet they played an essential role in God’s design. Generation after generation, God spoke through various people calling Israel back to justice, back to covenant, and back to hope. They pointed toward the Christ who would fulfill God’s promise.
And so, in His great plan, the Father sent His Son. His purpose was not merely to inspire us with his compassion or to teach us the truth, but to save us. Jesus became the embodiment of the Father’s plan for justice and to restore the relationship between God and humanity.
So, during this Third Week of Advent, we pause to consider: Where do we long for justice in our own world? How is God’s plan unfolding in the imperfect story of our own lives? And How might Christ desire to enter our world with His love and vision of justice?
Saint Ignatius teaches us to pray for the grace to know Jesus more intimately. This week, that grace may take the shape of seeing how Jesus’ coming fulfills God’s plan in scripture, but also in our personal histories. Just as God worked through flawed ancestors to bring forth Christ, he works through our imperfect lives to continue Christ’s mission of justice.
Margo Minnich
Margo Minnich, Associate Professor at Creighton University College of Nursing, integrates her passion for public health nursing and professional development with her commitment to Ignatian spirituality. Rooted in the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, she strives to live a life of service, compassion, and reflection, promoting holistic well-being in the communities she serves. In her professional work, Dr. Minnich aligns the core values of public health nursing with Ignatian principles, emphasizing social justice and the dignity of every person.
