Over the weekend, Dave, Elena and I saw a simulcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Gounod’s Faust, which was terrific. (If you have a chance to see en encore performance, you will not be sorry if you make the time to see it.)
Notwithstanding the title, the opera is more about Marguerite than about Faust. I can’t do justice in a short synopsis, but briefly: Faust makes his deal with the devil (Mephistopheles), allowing him to seduce Marguerite. Faust abandons her when she is pregnant with his child. In a duel, Faust kills her brother, who curses her with his dying breath. Distraught, Marguerite goes to church to pray for forgiveness, but hears the voice of Mephistopheles telling her she is damned. Marguerite kills her child and is imprisoned for infanticide. Faust and Mephistopheles go to the prison in an attempt to “save” Marguerite, but she resists their efforts and in the last scene, angelic voices proclaim she is saved.
Faust is a great tale from an Ignatian perspective. The enemy spirit (devil, evil spirit, whatever term you want to use) is constantly trying to turn us way from God. It tries to tempt us in various ways, holding out the promise of all sorts of gain if we abandon our path of faith. (Think of Jesus’ temptation in the dessert).
Of all the tricks of the enemy spirit – and there are many – the greatest is to try to persuade us that we cannot be reconciled with God, that whatever sin we have committed is too great to turn away from – that, in Mephistopheles words to Marguerite, we are damned. The great hope of the enemy spirit is to drive us to the despair of Judas, making us think we are beyond redemption.
But the reality is that, whatever we have done, no matter how bad, God is always there waiting anxiously for us to turn back to him. Marguerite is terrified when Mephistopheles tells her that her prayers are useless, that her soul is damned. But ultimately, she refuses to believe him and she continues to pray and beg God’s forgiveness. And in the end, we see her moving now down to the darkness, where Mephistopheles and Faust have disappeared, but up to the light, saved by the resurrected Christ.
Reconciliation is always possible.
Creo en Dios! 
So very true. And if he can’t get us to believe we aren’t redeemed he tries to convince us we have to do a bunch of activities to get that redemption. Would htat we’d all realize how passionately in love with us God is! God Bless! Mike
Is it loneliness embraced during moments of personal trial or despair that can contribute to our experiencing separation from God? To be emotionally cast adrift can be most harrowing, though the mooring lines are ours to loosen. God’s hand is always extended and offered -seeking nothing in return.
Though His comforting embrace often preceeds inquiring whispers, who listens better than the Lord? How often must we stray and follow whispers of promise experience ensures are short lived and hollow? Loneliness is the devils playground, a suffocating place shrouded in darkness. Facing our inner demons is never easy, facing them alone – often impossible. The journey back from darkness is easier when shared.
“Difficult moments we endure in silence can often smother God’s love and grace within us.” We need only find our voice, for He will always be there to offer a comforting embrace, listen and whisper encouragement…