Friday July 31, 2026, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, P. (Memorial)

FIRST READING

“All the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.”

*A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:1-9)*

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in the house of the Lord all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word. It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil which I intend to do to them because of their evil doings. You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you, and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not heeded, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth. ”’ The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 69:5.8- 10. 14 (R. 1 4c)

R/. In your great mercy, answer me, O Lord.

More numerous than the hairs on my head

are those who hate me without cause.

Many are those who attack us, enemies with lies.

What I have never stolen, how can I restore? R/.

It is for you that I suffer taunts,

that shame has covered my face.

To my own kin I have become an outcast,

a stranger to the children of my mother.

Zeal for your house consumes me,

and taunts against you fall on me. R/.

But I pray to you, O Lord, for a time of your favour.

In your great mercy, answer me, O God,

with your salvation that never fails. R/.

ALLELUIA 1 Peter 1:25

Alleluia. The word of the Lord abides forever; that word is the good news which was preached to you. Alleluia.

GOSPEL                                                                     

“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Where then did this man get all this? ”

*A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 13:54-58)*

At that time: Coming to his own country, Jesus taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these, mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

The Lord commanded Jeremiah to proclaim his message of conversion to the people of Israel without compromise. God threatened to punish them for their wickedness if they did not repent. This makes repentance a precondition for God’s unrelenting forgiveness of sinners. We are all sinners but if we recognize God’s forgiving love and turn away from our sins, we will certainly be forgiven and be renewed in his love. Jesus, I trust in you.

TODAY’S SAINT AND QUOTE: St Ignatius of Loyola – July 31st

This Spanish saint began his career as a soldier. After a series of injuries and operations, he focused his efforts on becoming a soldier for Christ. A contemporary of St Francis Xavier, he founded the Jesuits and is known to be the patron saint of soldiers and the Jesuits. Adult students can look to him as well — he finished his degree at 43 (Perfect for homeschool mothers who are learning right alongside their children!)

-If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He has great designs for you, and that He certainly intends to make you a saint.

-Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.

-Lord, teach me to be generous.

Teach me 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 labour and not to ask for reward,

save that of knowing that I do your will.

-It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.

PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL

“Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do, and I will obey you faithfully; teach me to serve you with complete devotion” Psalm 86:11

-Lord Jesus, make me always mindful of your words: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his own soul,” in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

-Holy Father, be thou, henceforth, my only treasure; make my heart too solicitous for the vain and fleeting things of the earth. Do not allow anything to separate me from you, in the name of Jesus.

-Grant me the grace my Father, to give up all things, to empty myself of all selfishness, so that your love may reign in me in the name of Jesus.

Let Us Pray,

*O Father, God of mercy and power, grant me the grace to be a source of joy to the people around me. May my life bring glory to your holy name at all times. Give me the grace, Holy Father, to avoid sin and all occasions of sin. Make me thirst for holiness of life through the study of your word and practice of generosity to the church and the less privileged. Like the deer thirsts for water, so my soul thirsts for you O Lord.*