Self-Emptying Love in a Global Context

by Sears, Robert T.; Bracken, Joseph A.

• ISBN13: 9781597525596
• ISBN10: 1597525596
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-20
• Publisher: Cascade Books

Summary

Care for the environment is an ever more pressing concern in today's world in which narrow self-interest has blinded us to the growing pollution of atmosphere and seas and the destruction of animal species caused by our indifference and neglect. Christianity has been blamed in part for this because of a misunderstanding of the Biblical call to have dominion over creation. Our spiritual tradition has indeed so focused on human salvation that the Earth has been seen simply as a transient environment that will be left behind in the end. In response, this little book highlights another spiritual tradition within Western Christianity that affirms that creation itself will also be transformed with humanity through the self-emptying love of God. God's dominion, after all, is service rather than despotic control, the raising up of the lowly of this Earth and of the Earth itself as part of a cosmic community. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are examined in this light as a call not only to join Christ in redeeming humanity, but also in extending Christ's care and love to all creation that longs for the freedom of the children of God.

Author Biography

Robert T. Sears, SJ, is Superior of Gonzaga Jesuit Community at Loyola University of Chicago Joseph A. Bracken, SJ, Joseph A. Bracken, SJ, is Professor of Theology emeritus at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. v
The Environment in Theological History	p. 1
The Origin of the Two Themes in Scripture	p. 1
The Ambiguity in the Early Writers	p. 9
Augustine: A Bridge between These Two Positions	p. 12
Medieval Scholasticism	p. 16
Thomas Aquinas: The Goal of Human Redemption	p. 18
Francis of Assisi: All Creation as God's Family	p. 20
Summary and Focus: A Resurrection Approach to the Environment	p. 22
Environment in the Spiritual Exercises	p. 27
Principle and Foundation	p. 28
Meditations of the First Week	p. 34
Call of the King and the Environment	p. 40
The King's Way as Our Way: Incarnation and Nativity	p. 47
Christ's Public Life and the Ignatian Strategy	p. 52
The Election	p. 58
The Passion: In Labor with God	p. 60
The Resurrection	p. 64
Contemplation to Attain God's Love	p. 72
Conclusion	p. 80
Bibliography	p. 85
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