Monday, July 31, 2023

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest

(Exodus 32:15-24.30-34; Matthew 13:31-35)

St. Ignatius along with six companions found the religious order known as the “Society of Jesus” or “Jesuits.” They were to defend the pope, to evangelize, and to teach.  Their growth was remarkable.  By the time of Ignatius’ death, there were more than a thousand Jesuits.  Today it is the religious congregation with the greatest number of members, about 14,000.

Jesus’ two parables in today’s gospel can be used to illustrate the expansion of the Jesuits.  Like a small mustard seed, they started with only a handful of men.  But after a generation they brought millions of people the joy of the gospel.  Especially through their schools and universities the Jesuits have acted like yeast in a mass of flour.  They have taught millions of people how to live as studied adherents to the faith.

Today more than ever we need to emulate St. Ignatius.  With a firm disposition, he was able to encourage others to believe.  A person of renowned holiness, he did not dither in niceties but practiced the Catholic tradition completely.

Monday, July 30, 2018

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 13:1-11; Matthew 13:31-35)

It might be better to speak of the “the reign of God” rather than “the kingdom of heaven”.” “Heaven” is a circumlocution, a way to avoid saying the holy name of God.  “Kingdom” is a static concept denoting a geographical entity more than the dynamic power that Jesus has in mind.

In any case Jesus wants his hearers to know that God’s authority does not require pomp and ceremony.  It is found in the humblest of things and grows into things extraordinarily beneficial.  A mustard seed turns into a plant providing nesting space for many birds.  A little yeast added to the right proportion of flour makes enough bread to feed a neighborhood.

These parables assure us that we do not need the devotion of a monk to receive God’s help.  He answers the sincere prayers of sinners as well as of saints.  This does not mean that we can pray to God like a gambler hedging his bet so that he doesn’t lose.  No, if we are going to turn to God for help, we should return to God’s ways.  If we want to look to Him as our Father, we should act like His faithful children.

Monday, July 31, 2017

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest

(Exodus 32:14-24.30.34; Matthew 13:31-35)

St. Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus to be like yeast in today’s gospel parable.  Although relatively few in comparison to the great numbers they serve, Jesuits have a tremendous enhancing effect.  Their power results from education but even more than that from a Christ-centered spirituality which gives them the focus and drive of St. Paul.   

Jesuits also go into the world which may be compared to the three measures of wheat flour.  In the beginning their mission was not to found monasteries where people could come for sanctification or communities from which they could go forth and retreat to preach the gospel.  No, they have traditionally been associated with the “front lines” engaging the people with an authentic interpretation of the gospel. 

The achievement of the Jesuits has been impressive.  Like the “whole batch” of bread mentioned in the gospel parable, Jesuits have been instrumental in bringing many to Christ.  They have established centers of learning throughout the world.  They have become not only among the best of theologians, but leaders in every ministry field.  As much as anyone Pope Francis epitomizes what the Jesuits.  He is well-learned but humble.  He can rub shoulders with the powerful but is at home with the poor.  He has accomplished much in his eighty years but is above all a prayerful man dependent upon God. 

Monday, July 26, 2010

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 13:1-11; Matthew 13:31-35)

Although Saints Joachim and Anne are named in the missal as the parents of Mary, more and more Catholics regard them as the grandparents of Jesus. In fact, we increasingly think of today as the feast day of all grandparents.

One pleasant memory that many have of their grandparents is entering their home and smelling the aroma of fermenting yeast. Grandmothers used the yeast for making their own bread or tortillas. Store-bought varieties, which children were accustomed to consuming, could never compare to the fresh, chewy bread that children ate at their grandparents’.

Jesus uses the image of yeast in the gospel today to describe the working of God’s Kingdom. Just as a bit of yeast is enough leaven to make all the bread that a household requires, so his inaugurating the Kingdom two thousand years ago redeems all history. We need only to commit ourselves to the Kingdom’s justice and love to thrive in the redemption it conveys.

Homilette for Monday, July 28, 2008

Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Matthew 13:31-35)

The parable section in Matthew’s gospel challenges astute readers. In it Jesus says that the comparisons or parables he uses are intended to confuse listeners. Yet we hear the parables as expressive images invoking wonder for God’s Kingdom. The paradox may be explained by observing that believers take the parables as true revelation of God’s love while skeptics only find them indicative of Jesus as a creative preacher.

Still we must struggle at times to understand the parables which are by nature open to different interpretations. The parable of the yeast, for example, may be heard as an indication of how a small infusion of grace can reap great blessing or as a mode of expressing God’s ability to transfer a defect into an instrument of His glory. An example of the latter interpretation is a priest who confesses that he spent much of his youth in egotistic pursuits. Then he converted his ways and felt God’s call. Now as pastor of a small church, he specializes in youth ministry.

Jesus’ parables do reveal him as a mesmerizing preacher. But this is only one aspect of his multiform identity. He is also recognized as a prodigious healer. We can easily expound on the list of characteristics. Most significantly, Jesus is the God who humbled himself to become our brother and savior.