MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS LOYOLA, PRIEST, JULY 31, 2025

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Matthew 13:47-53

Jesus said to the disciples: "The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."" Do you understand all these things?" They answered, "Yes." And he replied, "Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there. 

REFLECTION

" Do you understand all these things?"

A final separation and judgment awaits us….

We have to bear our daily share of trials, predicaments and ordeals. These, as well as our free will, will shape our decisions- important decisions- based on the teachings of Christ.  

Every day we also have an extra dose of tribulations originated daily by a group of people other than ourselves or situations. These people might hinder our growth in human and spiritual welfare and happiness. Besides our own brokenness, we have to be careful of people who might lead us astray or are leading others astray. To prepare for the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to avoid sin, the near occasion of sin but also help one another win heaven.

The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity by Carlo M. Cipolla might help us understand. He categorizes people into 4 different groups. Cipolla's quadrants are labeled as intelligent, helpless, bandit and stupid. Intelligent people are those who act to benefit both themselves and others. The intelligent create positive outcomes for everyone. The helpless create negative self outcomes, but positive for others. The bandit creates positive self outcomes but negative other outcomes. A stupid person is a person who causes losses to another person or group of people when he or she does not benefit and may even suffer losses.

Seek out good people in your life. Will to do good for not only yourself but for others. It is not a matter of IQ nor what we think is polite but it is the situation that we seek to make it to heaven. We coexist with many who might lead us in the wrong direction. Be as wise as a serpent. Be careful , shrewd and aware of potential dangers. Have a good grasp of reality, understand where you can and cannot go, who to associate with and not, and be cautious of traps and deceptions. Not all with power have your best interests in mind. Be willing to say "No" to others and "Yes" to God.

God Bless You