Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest
(Jeremiah 15:10.16-21; Matthew 13:44-46)
In today’s first reading Jeremiah rebels against God. He regrets having cast his lot with Him. He says that living righteously and
criticizing others for not doing so have brought loneliness and pain. The Lord listens but does not approve of what
Jeremiah is saying. Rather He offers the
prophet an opportunity to repent. He promises
to stand with Jeremiah so that his enemies may not prevail over him.
There are points of contact between Jeremiah’s spiritual journey
and that of St. Ignatius. Today’s
featured saint also spent time alone and in pain. He was recuperating from war injuries when he
began reading the lives of the saints. The
peace that he felt made him decide to change his life course. He too would speak for God. But he still met with resistance as he was
investigated by the Spanish Inquisition.
Along with six others he founded the Society of Jesus which provided the
Church essential support in its efforts to reform itself in the sixteenth
century.
All of us have times of trouble and loneliness. When they occur, we need to listen carefully
to the voice of God. He will give us the
support we need for renewal. Starting
over with God’s help should bring us peace and, more importantly, result in the
avowed goal of Jesuits, “the greater glory of God.”
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