Tuesday, 31st July 2018

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

LECTIONARY
402

FIRST READING
JER 14:17-22

Let my eyes stream with tears
day and night, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field,
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest
forage in a land they know not.

Have you cast Judah off completely?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.
For your name’s sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain?
Or can the mere heavens send showers?
Is it not you alone, O LORD,
our God, to whom we look?
You alone have done all these things.

PSALM
PS 79:8, 9, 11 AND 13

Response: For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.

Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.

Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.

GOSPEL
MT 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his Kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Daily Reflection

31st July 2018

No rain meant famine; famine brought disease to the hunger-stricken; hunger and disease resulted in weakness, which made the Israelites vulnerable to attack. It was in this pitiful and seemingly hopeless condition that the Israelites confessed their sin of having deserted God and begged His forgiveness.

In the first reading from Jeremiah, we see how God didn’t punish the people when they strayed, but allowed them time to realise their folly and choose to come back. Likewise in the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the weeds and the wheat to explain how God doesn’t destroy the bad, nor withdraw His providence, but allows them to exist alongside the good. While there is a risk of the good being influenced by the bad, there is also hope that the bad will be influenced for the good.

Today, we remember St Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish knight from a noble family. His introspection led him into a spiritual journey that resulted in the formation the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

Like the Jesuits, may we learn to regularly ‘examine’ our lives so that we may remain focussed witnesses of the Gospel.