Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Lectionary: 405
Lectionary: 405
The LORD said to
Moses,
“These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate
at their proper time with a sacred assembly.
The Passover of the LORD falls on the fourteenth day of the first month,
at the evening twilight.
The fifteenth day of this month is the LORD’s feast of Unleavened Bread.
For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
On the first of these days you shall hold a sacred assembly
and do no sort of work.
On each of the seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD.
Then on the seventh day you shall again hold a sacred assembly
and do no sort of work.”
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel and tell them:
When you come into the land which I am giving you,
and reap your harvest,
you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest
to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD
that it may be acceptable for you.
On the day after the sabbath the priest shall do this.
“Beginning with the day after the sabbath,
the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf,
you shall count seven full weeks,
and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day,
you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.
“The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement,
when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves
and offer an oblation to the LORD.
“The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD’s feast of Booths,
which shall continue for seven days.
On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly,
and you shall do no sort of work.
For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD,
and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly
and offer an oblation to the LORD.
On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.
“These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD
on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly,
and offer as an oblation to the LORD burnt offerings and cereal offerings,
sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day.”
“These are the festivals of the LORD which you shall celebrate
at their proper time with a sacred assembly.
The Passover of the LORD falls on the fourteenth day of the first month,
at the evening twilight.
The fifteenth day of this month is the LORD’s feast of Unleavened Bread.
For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
On the first of these days you shall hold a sacred assembly
and do no sort of work.
On each of the seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD.
Then on the seventh day you shall again hold a sacred assembly
and do no sort of work.”
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the children of Israel and tell them:
When you come into the land which I am giving you,
and reap your harvest,
you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest
to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD
that it may be acceptable for you.
On the day after the sabbath the priest shall do this.
“Beginning with the day after the sabbath,
the day on which you bring the wave-offering sheaf,
you shall count seven full weeks,
and then on the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day,
you shall present the new cereal offering to the LORD.
“The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement,
when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves
and offer an oblation to the LORD.
“The fifteenth day of this seventh month is the LORD’s feast of Booths,
which shall continue for seven days.
On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly,
and you shall do no sort of work.
For seven days you shall offer an oblation to the LORD,
and on the eighth day you shall again hold a sacred assembly
and offer an oblation to the LORD.
On that solemn closing you shall do no sort of work.
“These, therefore, are the festivals of the LORD
on which you shall proclaim a sacred assembly,
and offer as an oblation to the LORD burnt offerings and cereal offerings,
sacrifices and libations, as prescribed for each day.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11AB
R. (2a) Sing with joy to God our help.
Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,
the pleasant harp and the lyre.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our solemn feast.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
For it is a statute in Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob,
Who made it a decree for Joseph
when he came forth from the land of Egypt.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,
the pleasant harp and the lyre.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our solemn feast.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
For it is a statute in Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob,
Who made it a decree for Joseph
when he came forth from the land of Egypt.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt.
R. Sing with joy to God our help.
Alleluia1 PT 1:25
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever;
this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord remains forever;
this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 13:54-58
Jesus came to his
native place and taught the people in their synagogue.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
They were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds?
Is he not the carpenter’s son?
Is not his mother named Mary
and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?
Are not his sisters all with us?
Where did this man get all this?”
And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there
because of their lack of faith.
Meditation: "They took offense at Jesus"
Are you critical towards others, especially those who are close
to you? The most severe critics are often people very familiar to us, a member
of our family, a relative, neighbor, student, or worker we rub shoulders with
on a regular basis. Jesus faced a severe testing when he returned to his home
town, not simply as the carpenter's son, but now as a rabbi with disciples. It
would have been customary for Jesus to go to the synagogue each week during the
Sabbath, and when his turn came, to read from the scriptures during the Sabbath
service. His hometown folks listened with rapt attention on this occasion
because they had heard about the miracles he had performed in other towns.
What sign would he do in his hometown? Jesus startled them with
a seeming rebuke that no prophet or servant of God can receive honor among his
own people. The people of Nazareth took offense at himand refused
to listen to what he had to say. They despised his preaching because he was a
carpenter from the working class, and a mere layman untrained by religious
scholars. They also despised him because of his family background. After all,
Joseph was a tradesman as well and Mary had no special social distinctions.
Familiarity breeds contempt
How easily familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in his hometown because the people who were familiar with him were closed-minded and despised his claim to speak and act in the name of God. If people come together to hate and refuse to understand others different than themselves, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you view those who are familiar to you? With kindness and respect or with a critical and judgmental spirit?
How easily familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus could do no mighty works in his hometown because the people who were familiar with him were closed-minded and despised his claim to speak and act in the name of God. If people come together to hate and refuse to understand others different than themselves, then they will see no other point of view than their own and they will refuse to love and accept others. How do you view those who are familiar to you? With kindness and respect or with a critical and judgmental spirit?
The Lord Jesus offers us freedom from sin, prejudice, contempt,
and fear. His love and grace sets us free to love others with the same grace
and mercy which he has shown to us. Only Jesus can truly set us free from the
worst tyranny possible - slavery to sin and the fear of death. His victory on
the cross brings us pardon and healing, and the grace to live holy lives by the
power of the Holy Spirit. Do you know the joy and freedom which Christ's love
brings to our hearts?
"Lord Jesus, your love conquers every fear and breaks the
power of hatred and prejudice. Flood my heart with your mercy and compassion,
that I may treat my neighbor with the same favor and kindness which you have
shown to me."
FRIDAY, JULY 31, MATTHEW 13:54-58
(Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37; Psalm 81)
(Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37; Psalm 81)
KEY VERSE: "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house" (v 57).
TO KNOW: Chapters 13:54 ̶ 17:27 of Matthew's gospel have been given the title: "The Kingdom of God and the Church." God's kingdom was clearly visible in the person of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man. When Jesus finished his teachings in the towns around the Lake of Galilee, he returned to Nazareth where he was raised. His neighbors were astonished by his teaching and mighty deeds, but they were also skeptical. Jesus was a "hometown boy," and they took offense at his presumption in telling them how to live their lives. Jesus was rejected like the prophets before him. Because his neighbors lacked faith in him, he was unable to perform many miracles there.
TO LOVE: Do I see God at work among my friends and neighbors?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be open to hearing truth from the teachings of the Church.
Memorial of Ignatius of Loyola, priest
Born in 1491 at Loyola, Spain, Ignatius was wounded in the leg by a cannonball at the siege of Pampeluna in 1521, an injury that left him partially crippled for life. During his recuperation the only books he had access to were The Golden Legend, a collection of lives of the saints, and The Life of Christ. These books, and the time spent in contemplation, changed him. Upon his recovery he took a vow of chastity, hung his sword before the altar of the Virgin of Montserrat, and donned a pilgrim's robe. He journeyed to Rome and the Holy Land where he worked to convert Muslims. His meditations, prayers, visions and insights led to forming the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) on 15 August 1534. He traveled to Europe and the Holy Lands, then settled in Rome to direct the Jesuit order. His health suffered in later years, and he was nearly blind at death. The Jesuits today have over 500 universities and colleges, 30,000 members, and teach over 200,000 students each year.
"Teach us to be generous, good Lord; teach us to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing we do Your will." - Prayer, Ignatius of Loyola
Friday 31 July 2015
St
Ignatius of Loyola. DAY OF PENANCE.
Leviticus
23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37. Sing with joy to God our help—Ps 80(81):3-6,
10-11. Matthew 13:54-58.
We should
be slow to speak and patient in listening
(St
Ignatius).
According
to the distinguished Coptic Christian, Adel Bestravos, ‘Patience with others is
charity; patience with
self is
hope; patience with God is faith.’
Though we
may not immediately associate the practice of patience with one who was a
Basque by birth and a passionate man on and off the battlefield, Ignatius
Loyola was a conspicuously patient man. In his life and in his letters patience
is revealed as one of his most admirable qualities. For St Augustine patience
is ‘the companion of wisdom’; and, as Paul reminds us, it is one of the twelve
fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Lord, I
pray for those who sometimes try my patience and for the grace to walk gently
amidst the turmoil of daily life with a pure heart.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Tear Down the Wall
|
When we are angry with someone we put up a wall between us and
this person. And so we deprive ourselves of that person’s love. Included in
this love—which is probably the warmest love you can ever receive—is the love
of God. So, I hope when the time is right, you can let the wall come down and
let God love you.
July
31
St. Ignatius of Loyola
(1491-1556)
St. Ignatius of Loyola
(1491-1556)
The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and
fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of
romance on hand during his convalescence, Ignatius whiled away the time
reading a life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was deeply
touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began. Having seen the Mother of
God in a vision, he made a pilgrimage to her shrine at Montserrat (near
Barcelona). He remained for almost a year at nearby Manresa, sometimes with the
Dominicans, sometimes in a pauper’s hospice, often in a cave in the hills
praying. After a period of great peace of mind, he went through a harrowing
trial of scruples. There was no comfort in anything—prayer, fasting,
sacraments, penance. At length, his peace of mind returned.
It was
during this year of conversion that Ignatius began to write down material
that later became his greatest work, the Spiritual Exercises.
He
finally achieved his purpose of going to the Holy Land, but could not remain, as
he planned, because of the hostility of the Turks. He spent the next 11 years
in various European universities, studying with great difficulty, beginning
almost as a child. Like many others, his orthodoxy was questioned; Ignatius was
twice jailed for brief periods.
In 1534,
at the age of 43, he and six others (one of whom was St. Francis Xavier,
December 2) vowed to live in poverty and chastity and to go to the Holy Land.
If this became impossible, they vowed to offer themselves to the apostolic
service of the pope. The latter became the only choice. Four years later
Ignatius made the association permanent. The new Society of Jesus was approved
by Paul III, and Ignatius was elected to serve as the first general.
When
companions were sent on various missions by the pope, Ignatius remained in
Rome, consolidating the new venture, but still finding time to found homes for
orphans, catechumens and penitents. He founded the Roman College, intended to
be the model of all other colleges of the Society.
Ignatius
was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations
of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is
expressed in the Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the
greater glory of God.” In his concept, obedience was to be the prominent
virtue, to assure the effectiveness and mobility of his men. All activity was
to be guided by a true love of the Church and unconditional obedience to the
Holy Father, for which reason all professed members took a fourth vow to go
wherever the pope should send them for the salvation of souls.
Comment:
Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation. He was an implacable foe of Protestantism. Yet the seeds of ecumenism may be found in his words: “Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation. No hard words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown.” One of the greatest 20thh-century ecumenists was Cardinal Bea, a Jesuit.
Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in 1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius founded the Society that was to play so prominent a part in the Catholic Reformation. He was an implacable foe of Protestantism. Yet the seeds of ecumenism may be found in his words: “Great care must be taken to show forth orthodox truth in such a way that if any heretics happen to be present they may have an example of charity and Christian moderation. No hard words should be used nor any sort of contempt for their errors be shown.” One of the greatest 20thh-century ecumenists was Cardinal Bea, a Jesuit.
Quote:
Ignatius recommended this prayer to penitents: “Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”
Ignatius recommended this prayer to penitents: “Receive, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.”
Patron Saint of:
Retreats
Retreats
LECTIO DIVINA:
MATTHEW 13,54-58
Lectio:
Friday, July 31, 2015
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
God our Father and protector,
without you nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings you have given to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
without you nothing is holy,
nothing has value.
Guide us to everlasting life
by helping us to use wisely
the blessings you have given to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 13,54-58
Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their
synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, 'Where did the man
get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter's son, surely?
Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and
Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did
the man get it all?' And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, 'A
prophet is despised only in his own country and in his own house,' and he did
not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today tells us the visit of Jesus to Nazareth, his
native community. Passing through Nazareth was painful for Jesus. What was his
community at the beginning, now it is no longer so. Something has changed.
Where there is no faith, Jesus can work no miracles.
• Matthew 13, 53-57ª: The reaction of the people of Nazareth before Jesus. It is always good for people to go back to their land. After a long absence, Jesus also returns, as usual, on a Saturday, and he goes to the meeting of the community. Jesus was not the head of the group, but just the same he speaks. This is a sign that persons could participate and express their own opinion. People were astonished. They did not understand Jesus’ attitude: "Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” Jesus, son of that place, whom they knew since he was a child, how is that now he is so different? The people of Nazareth were scandalized and do not accept him: “This is the carpenter’s son, surely? The people do not accept the mystery of God present in a common man as they are, as they had known Jesus. In order to speak about God he should be different. As one can see, not everything was positive. The persons, who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News, are the first ones to refuse to accept it. The conflict is not only with foreigners, but also with his relatives and with the people of Nazareth. They do not accept because they cannot understand the mystery envelops Jesus: “Is not his mother, the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? And his sisters too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?” They are not able to believe.
• Matthew 13, 57b-58: Reaction of Jesus before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “no one is a prophet in his own country”. And he says: A prophet is despised only in his own country and in his own house”. In fact, where there is neither acceptance nor faith, people can do nothing. The prejudice prevents it. Jesus himself, even wanting, can do nothing. He was astonished before their lack of faith.
• The brothers and sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers of Jesus” causes much polemics between Catholics and Protestants. Basing themselves in this and in other texts, the Protestants say that Jesus had many brothers and sisters and that Mary had more children! Catholics say that Mary did not have any other children. What can we think about this? In the first place, both positions, that of Catholics as well as that of Protestants, contain arguments taken from the Bible and from the Tradition of their respective Churches. For this reason, it is not convenient to discuss this question with arguments which are only intellectual, because it is a question of profound convictions, which have something to do with faith and with the sentiments of both and of each one. The argument which is only intellectual cannot change a conviction of the heart! It only irritates and draws away! Even if I do not agree with the opinion of others, I have to respect it. In the second place, instead of discussing around texts, all of us, Catholics and Protestants, should unite ourselves much more to fight for the defence of life, created by God, a life so disfigured by poverty, injustice, lack of faith. We should recall some other phrases of Jesus. “I have come so that they may have life and life to the full” (Jn 10, 10). “That all may be one, so that the world may believe that you, Father, has sent me” (Jn 17, 21). “Do not prevent them! Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mk 10, 39.40)
• Matthew 13, 53-57ª: The reaction of the people of Nazareth before Jesus. It is always good for people to go back to their land. After a long absence, Jesus also returns, as usual, on a Saturday, and he goes to the meeting of the community. Jesus was not the head of the group, but just the same he speaks. This is a sign that persons could participate and express their own opinion. People were astonished. They did not understand Jesus’ attitude: "Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” Jesus, son of that place, whom they knew since he was a child, how is that now he is so different? The people of Nazareth were scandalized and do not accept him: “This is the carpenter’s son, surely? The people do not accept the mystery of God present in a common man as they are, as they had known Jesus. In order to speak about God he should be different. As one can see, not everything was positive. The persons, who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News, are the first ones to refuse to accept it. The conflict is not only with foreigners, but also with his relatives and with the people of Nazareth. They do not accept because they cannot understand the mystery envelops Jesus: “Is not his mother, the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? And his sisters too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?” They are not able to believe.
• Matthew 13, 57b-58: Reaction of Jesus before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “no one is a prophet in his own country”. And he says: A prophet is despised only in his own country and in his own house”. In fact, where there is neither acceptance nor faith, people can do nothing. The prejudice prevents it. Jesus himself, even wanting, can do nothing. He was astonished before their lack of faith.
• The brothers and sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers of Jesus” causes much polemics between Catholics and Protestants. Basing themselves in this and in other texts, the Protestants say that Jesus had many brothers and sisters and that Mary had more children! Catholics say that Mary did not have any other children. What can we think about this? In the first place, both positions, that of Catholics as well as that of Protestants, contain arguments taken from the Bible and from the Tradition of their respective Churches. For this reason, it is not convenient to discuss this question with arguments which are only intellectual, because it is a question of profound convictions, which have something to do with faith and with the sentiments of both and of each one. The argument which is only intellectual cannot change a conviction of the heart! It only irritates and draws away! Even if I do not agree with the opinion of others, I have to respect it. In the second place, instead of discussing around texts, all of us, Catholics and Protestants, should unite ourselves much more to fight for the defence of life, created by God, a life so disfigured by poverty, injustice, lack of faith. We should recall some other phrases of Jesus. “I have come so that they may have life and life to the full” (Jn 10, 10). “That all may be one, so that the world may believe that you, Father, has sent me” (Jn 17, 21). “Do not prevent them! Anyone who is not against us is for us” (Mk 10, 39.40)
4) Personal questions
• In Jesus something changed in his relationship with the
Community of Nazareth. Since you began to participate in the community, has
something changed in your relationship with the family? Why?
• Has participation in the community helped you to accept and to trust persons, especially the more simple and the poorest?
• Has participation in the community helped you to accept and to trust persons, especially the more simple and the poorest?
5) Concluding Prayer
For myself, wounded wretch that I am,
by your saving power raise me up!
I will praise God’s name in song,
I will extol him by thanksgiving. (Ps 69, 29-30)
by your saving power raise me up!
I will praise God’s name in song,
I will extol him by thanksgiving. (Ps 69, 29-30)
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