Ignatius of Loyola, Priest, Religious Founder Obligatory Memorial
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67: 2-3, 5, 7-8
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 10
Gospel: Matthew 14: 1-12
First Reading: Leviticus 25: 1, 8-17
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses in mount Sinai, saying:
8 Thou shalt also number to thee seven weeks of years, that is to say, seven times seven, which together make forty-nine years:
9 And thou shalt sound the trumpet in the seventh month, the tenth day of the month, in the time of the expiation in all your land.
10 And thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year, and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee. Every man shall return to his possession, and every one shall go back to his former family:
11 Because it is the jubilee and the fiftieth year. You shall not sow, nor reap the things that grow in the field of their own accord, neither shall you gather the firstfruits of the vines,
12 Because of the sanctification of the jubilee: but as they grow you shall presently eat them.
13 In the year of the jubilee all shall return to their possessions.
14 When thou shalt sell any thing to thy neighbour, or shalt buy of him; grieve not thy brother: but thou shalt buy of him according to the number of years from the jubilee.
15 And he shall sell to thee according to the computation of the fruits.
16 The more years remain after the jubilee, the more shall the price increase: and the less time is counted, so much the less shall the purchase cost. For he shall sell to thee the time of the fruits.
17 Do not afflict your countrymen, but let every one fear his God: because I am the Lord your God.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67: 2-3, 5, 7-8
R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
2 May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us.
3 That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation in all nations.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
5 Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for thou judgest the people with justice, and directest the nations upon earth.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
7 The earth hath yielded her fruit. May God, our God bless us,
8 May God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
Alleluia: Matthew 5: 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 14: 1-12
1 At the time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus.
2 And he said to his servants: This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him.
3 For Herod had apprehended John and bound him, and put him into prison, because of Herodias, his brother’s wife.
4 For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people: because they esteemed him as a prophet.
6 But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him.
8 But she being instructed before by her mother, said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Baptist.
9 And the king was struck sad: yet because of his oath, and for them that sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and came and told Jesus.
Reflection
God’s holiness creates a people who do not exploit one another. The jubilee laws place possessions, work, and economic decisions beneath a greater truth: the land and its fruits are gifts, and every person must be treated with reverence. “Do not afflict your countrymen,” the Lord commands, because justice begins when we remember that our neighbor belongs to God.
John the Baptist embodies this courage. He speaks the truth plainly to Herod, even when truth threatens power and brings persecution. Herod’s weakness is revealed in his fear of people, his attachment to his promise, and his willingness to do evil rather than lose face. John’s death does not make his witness meaningless; the Gospel places him among those who suffer for justice, while the psalm looks toward a world directed by God’s righteous judgment. Christian discipleship may require us to resist convenient compromises and to protect the dignity of others in practical ways. The jubilee points toward restoration; John points toward the cost of announcing what is right. In both, God calls us to live truthfully, trusting that his justice and mercy reach farther than human power.
Prayer
Lord God, source of justice and mercy, teach me to see every person as belonging to you. Free me from selfishness, fear of human opinion, and the desire to preserve my comfort at another’s expense. Give me the courage of John to speak truth with fidelity, and the humility to accept the cost of doing what is right. Help me restore peace where I have caused harm and act fairly in the responsibilities entrusted to me. May your blessing reach all nations, and may my life give praise to your holy name. Amen.
Leave a Reply