Good morning, Good People,
May the Lord give you peace and blessings in the Holy Spirit. It is 31st July 2025. We celebrate the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest. We reflect on Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 and Matthew 13:47-53.
Have we allowed God to dwell in our lives?
St. Ignatius of Loyola reminds us:
“We should not fix our desires on health or sickness, wealth or poverty, success or failure… but only on what leads us to God’s presence.”
A young man came to a wise monk and said, “I pray and serve, but I don’t feel God’s presence.” The monk took him to a dusty mirror and asked, “What do you see?” “Nothing,” the young man replied, “It’s too dusty.” The monk gave him a cloth and said, “Clean it.” When the mirror was clear, the young man exclaimed, “Now I see my face!” The monk said, “God’s presence is like light—always there. Sin, fear, pride, and noise cloud your soul. Cleaning the mirror is like examining your life daily. Then you will see that He was with you all along.” “Start by cleaning one corner a day,” the monk whispered. “Soon, you will see the light flooding in.”
Both readings today beautifully echo the theme of God’s indwelling presence—at times visible, at other times mysteriously hidden.
Moses meticulously prepares the Tabernacle exactly as God instructed him. The people of Israel are then guided, not by their strength, but by the abiding and unconditional presence of God—in the form of cloud by day and fire by night.
In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to face the end with the energy of life. He compares the Kingdom of God to a net cast wide into the sea—gathering all kinds: the good, the bad, the vulnerable, the healed, the healers, the confused, and the zealous. But the discernment and sorting are left to God. Not everything gathered is called and chosen.
Our daily examination of conscience helps us recognize the unnecessary burdens we have accumulated—through time, place, and relationships.
It is time to take stock of our lives, and to have the courage to let go of what poisons the soul—those hidden “diseases” that contaminate the rest of our inner life.
The accessibility of Christ’s message empowers us to receive it with grace—and apply it in a way that draws out the best in us.
May God bless each one of us with the strength to cooperate with His will daily.
May we be generous in responding to His call—recognizing His presence in our lives, and in the lives of those around us.
Have a lovely and blessed day.