In the “Contemplation on the Incarnation,” St. Ignatius invites us to enter into this mercy by imagining the three persons of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) sitting in Heaven looking down on all that they had created. Now, imagine that they invite you to come sit with them, because they want to share with you what they see and how they feel.

So, as the Trinity gazes upon creation, what do they see?

On the one hand, they see all that is beautiful. They see majestic, snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys. They see forests and jungles, full of birds and monkeys and every kind of critter, just like we have here in Belize. They see oceans of every shade of blue you can imagine, just like we enjoy here in Belize, and full of every kind of fish. As the Trinity gazes upon creation, they also see human beings in every country, some young and some old, with every shade of skin color, speaking different languages, and praising God in their various religious traditions. They see mothers giving birth, and families rejoicing at the gift of new life. They see children laughing, playing, and going to school to learn. They see adults as they work hard to make a living to support their families. They see families gathered together praying and crying at the death of their elders. They see the guy across the street from your house helping a total stranger get his car started. They see you and me, as we do our best to love one another. How does God feel as God sees all this beauty and goodness? Take some time to enjoy the view!

But that’s not all the Trinity sees. They also see huge factories belching out smoke that chokes the world. They see us cutting down trees, destroying the habitats of countless animals, and causing their extinction. They see workers, especially children, being exploited for their labour. They see women and children trafficked and condemned to lives of sexual slavery. They see young men, in an effort to find some self worth, shooting each other down on the streets. They see rich folk as they pad their lush lifestyles, while countless children cry themselves to sleep at night on empty stomachs. They see nations going to war with one another. They see each one of the 65 million men, women, and children fleeing their homes due to violence.

The Trinity sees the beautiful and the ugly, the good and the bad. St. Ignatius invites us to consider how the Trinity feels, when they see all of this. What do you think goes through God’s head and heart at the sight of the world? Spend some time with this question; don’t answer too quickly. Let God tell you what he feels.

Then Ignatius invites us to imagine the Trinity having a conversation about all of this. What would they say? Perhaps the Father says something like, “What shall we do? We can’t let our children suffer like this!” Perhaps the Holy Spirit echoes this saying, “Let’s try to save them!” And then the Son takes a deep breath and responds by saying, “I’ll go. Send me.” And at that moment, Ignatius says, the angel Gabriel appeared to a young woman in Nazareth named Mary…