31st July 2023 Monday mass Introduction

 

31^st July 2023 Monday

Today the catholic church celebrates the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) he was a Spanish knight from a local Basque noble family. He founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and, on 19 April 1541, became its first Superior General. Loyola's devotion to the Catholic Church was characterized by absolute obedience to the Pope. He is the patron of soldiers and educators.

 

First Reading: Exodus 32: 15-24, 30-34

 

Today’s first reading illustrates the Israelites' vulnerability to temptation and their tendency to turn away from God despite witnessing His miraculous acts and receiving His commandments. Moses, as the mediator between the people and God, exhibits deep concern for the Israelites and pleads for their forgiveness, showing his strong sense of responsibility and leadership. Ultimately, this incident highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God's commandments and the consequences of straying from His path.

Gospel: Matthew 13: 31-35

 

 Today’s gospel, the parable of mustard seed speaks about the transformative and expansive nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, starting from humble and seemingly insignificant beginnings but eventually spreading and affecting the lives of many. They also emphasize the importance of spiritual receptivity in comprehending the hidden truths contained within Jesus' teachings.

 

Reflection- The readings of today emphasize the concerns of both Moses and Jesus on the people under their care. At the creation of molten image, Moses loses his temper, but he goes back to the Lord and makes a repeated plea to forgive his people. Similarly, Jesus repeats one parable after another to make the crowd understand the meaning of the kingdom of heaven. Responsible persons do not let the poison of the past spoil a fruitful future. They are far from frustrations over the weakness of those under their care. When a goal is set, we need to work harder, not minding inconveniences and humiliations that come on our way. We cannot taste success with limited efforts.

 

Prayer- Let us ask the lord for the grace so that we may be able to live in his presence every moment of our life well pleasing to God.