Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Today's Mass Readings

Today’s gospel presents us with further parables of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a great tree—home to the birds of the sky who dwell in its branches. It is also like a small bit of yeast that leavens a large batch of dough that will yield several loaves of bread, much more than an average family in Jesus’s time would need for a day. The word of God, once planted in a hearer’s heart will ultimately yield results, but they may be slow in becoming visible. A mustard plant may take 80-95 days to grow to maturity; yeast takes several hours to leaven a substantial batch of dough. Great things come from small beginnings.

We celebrate today the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). A worldly and prideful soldier in his youth, Ignatius’ life was suddenly changed by a cannonball that fractured his leg. The seed of conversion germinated during his lengthy time of recovery through unexpected sources: a book about the life of Christ and biographies of the lives of the saints. In 1540, he founded the Society of Jesus. This new religious order that began with only seven members would one day become, like the mustard tree, a large society with membership across the entire world. The Jesuits have brought the message of the gospel to nearly every continent. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the practice of the Daily Examen have leavened the spiritual lives of countless men and women throughout the centuries and continue to help both religious and lay persons to grow closer to God today. Great things come from small beginnings.

St. Ignatius’ suscipe prayer is a humble summary of his life-changing spirituality and the kind of yeast that can transform our lives: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.” May it be enough for us also. Great things come from small beginnings.

Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB