Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola,
Priest
Lectionary: 405
Lectionary: 405
In the beginning of the reign of
Jehoiakim,
son of Josiah, king of Judah,
this message came from the LORD:
Thus says the LORD:
Stand in the court of the house of the LORD
and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah
who come to worship in the house of the LORD;
whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing.
Perhaps they will listen and turn back,
each from his evil way,
so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them
for their evil deeds.
Say to them: Thus says the LORD:
If you disobey me,
not living according to the law I placed before you
and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets,
whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them,
I will treat this house like Shiloh,
and make this the city to which all the nations of the earth
shall refer when cursing another.
son of Josiah, king of Judah,
this message came from the LORD:
Thus says the LORD:
Stand in the court of the house of the LORD
and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah
who come to worship in the house of the LORD;
whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing.
Perhaps they will listen and turn back,
each from his evil way,
so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them
for their evil deeds.
Say to them: Thus says the LORD:
If you disobey me,
not living according to the law I placed before you
and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets,
whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them,
I will treat this house like Shiloh,
and make this the city to which all the nations of the earth
shall refer when cursing another.
Now the priests, the prophets, and
all the people
heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD.
When Jeremiah finished speaking
all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people,
the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying,
“You must be put to death!
Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD:
‘This house shall be like Shiloh,’ and
‘This city shall be desolate and deserted’?”
And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD.
When Jeremiah finished speaking
all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people,
the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying,
“You must be put to death!
Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD:
‘This house shall be like Shiloh,’ and
‘This city shall be desolate and deserted’?”
And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Responsorial
Psalm69:5, 8-10, 14
R. (14c) Lord, in your
great love, answer me.
Those outnumber the hairs of my head
who hate me without cause.
Too many for my strength
are they who wrongfully are my enemies.
Must I restore what I did not steal?
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Since for your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Those outnumber the hairs of my head
who hate me without cause.
Too many for my strength
are they who wrongfully are my enemies.
Must I restore what I did not steal?
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Since for your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
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 him and 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?
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?
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 him and 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?
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.
Daily
Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Few miracles done because of their
unbelief, by Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD)
"It
seems to me that the production of miracles is similar in some ways to the case
of physical things. Cultivation is not sufficient to produce a harvest of
fruits unless the soil, or rather the atmosphere, cooperates to this end. And
the atmosphere of itself is not sufficient to produce a harvest without
cultivation. The one who providentially orders creation did not design things
to spring up from the earth without cultivation. Only in the first instance did
he do so when he said, 'Let the earth bring forth vegetation, with the seed
sowing according to its kind and according to its likeness' (Genesis 1:11). It
is just this way in regard to the production of miracles. The complete work
resulting in a healing is not displayed without those being healed exercising
faith. Faith, of whatever quality it might be, does not produce a healing
without divine power.' (excerpt from the COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW
10.19)
FRIDAY, JULY 31, MATTHEW 13:54-58
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest
(Jeremiah 26:1-9; Psalm 69)
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest
(Jeremiah 26:1-9; Psalm 69)
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," whose family were known to them, and they took offense at his presumption in telling them how to live their lives. Like the prophets before him, Jesus faced opposition and rejection. Because his neighbors lacked faith in him, he was unable to perform many miracles there.
TO LOVE: Am I able to see God at work among my friends and neighbors?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to be open to hearing truth in the teachings of the Church.
NOTE: The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary. In fact James and Joseph, "brothers of Jesus," are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls "the other Mary." They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 500) refers to the fact that we find the "brothers" of the Lord listed as "James, Joseph, Simon and Judas," (Mt 13:55-56), later we find "James and Joseph" mentioned again, but this time their mother is revealed as being named Mary, but not Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In John 19:25 Mary is referred to as the "wife of Clopas"), the brother of Joseph. Church historian Eudebias said that Simeon, was a cousin of James the Just, the son of Clopas. We can conclude that "James and Joseph" are "brothers" of Jesus in the spiritual sense, but they are not blood brothers.
Memorial of Saint 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 The 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 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 2020
St Ignatius Loyola. Day of penance
Jeremiah 26:1-9. Lord, in your great love, answer me – Psalm
68(69):5, 8-10, 14. 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 amid the turmoil of daily life with a pure heart.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint of the Day for July 31
(October 23, 1491 – July 31, 1556)
 |
| St. Ignatius of Loyola | Peter Paul Rubens |
Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Story
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.
Ignatius 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
Saint Francis Xavier—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 Pope 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.
Reflection
Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg in
1517. Seventeen years later, Ignatius of Loyola 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 ecumenists was the 20th-century German
Jesuit, Cardinal Augustin Bea.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola is the Patron Saint of:
Retreats
Lectio Divina: Matthew 13:54-58
Lectio Divina
Friday, July 31, 2020
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
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.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today tells us of Jesus’ visit to Nazareth, His
native community. Passing through Nazareth was painful for Jesus. What was His
community at the beginning, now 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 people 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 it that now He is so different? The people of Nazareth are 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, and as they had known Jesus. In order to speak about God He should be different. As one can see, not everything was positive. The people, who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News, are the first ones to refuse 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 which 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: Jesus’ reaction before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “no one is a prophet in his own country.” 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. Prejudice prevents it. Jesus Himself, even wanting, can do nothing. He was astonished at their lack of faith.
• 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 people 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 it that now He is so different? The people of Nazareth are 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, and as they had known Jesus. In order to speak about God He should be different. As one can see, not everything was positive. The people, who should have been the first ones to accept the Good News, are the first ones to refuse 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 which 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: Jesus’ reaction before the attitude of the people of Nazareth. Jesus knows very well that “no one is a prophet in his own country.” 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. Prejudice prevents it. Jesus Himself, even wanting, can do nothing. He was astonished at their lack of faith.
• The brothers and sisters of Jesus. The expression “brothers of
Jesus” causes much division between Catholics and Protestants. Based on this
and 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 are we to think of this? 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. We should consider that in our
communities today we also call each other “brother” and “sister”, yet we don’t
share immediate parents. In that day, children didn’t move far from their
parents like they might do today, so many extended family relationships existed
within the same community. For this reason, it is not helpful 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 each one. An argument which is merely intellectual cannot
change a conviction of the heart! It only irritates and repels! Even if I do
not agree with the opinion of others, I have to respect it. In the second
place, instead of talking about texts, all of us, Catholics and Protestants,
should unite in order to fight for the defense of life, created by God, a life
disfigured by poverty, injustice, lack of faith. We should recall some other
sayings 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, have 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 community, has
anything changed in your relationship with your family? Why?
• Has participation in the community helped you to accept and to trust people, especially the more simple and the poorest?
• When two join to form a new community in marriage, their relationship with their families also changes. Reconsider the previous questions in light of this as well.
• Has participation in the community helped you to accept and to trust people, especially the more simple and the poorest?
• When two join to form a new community in marriage, their relationship with their families also changes. Reconsider the previous questions in light of this as well.
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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