St Ignatius of Loyola | Friday 31 July 2020
Today is Friday the 31 July, the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, in the 17th week of Ordinary Time.
The University of Johannesburg Choir sing Ndisondela Kuwe, I come to you in prayer, almighty God. You are worthy to be praised. Today we celebrate St Ignatius for whom prayer was so treasured… can you enter into your own prayer time today in the same spirit?
Today is the feast of St Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. In his book of the Spiritual Exercises, he introduces the kind of prayer that is offered here each day in Pray As You Go. His aim, he said, was always to ‘help souls’. Nowadays we might speak of helping each of us to become the kind of people God created us to be. Today’s passage echoes that message.
Today’s reading is from St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Give no offence to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Paul tells the people of Corinth to ‘do everything for the glory of God’. How far does that match how you yourself act, or would want to act?
Why is it important, do you think, to both Paul and Ignatius not to give offence to people?
Paul speaks of being an imitator of Christ. Presumably this doesn’t mean looking like him. In what ways do you try to imitate Christ?
Notice, as the passage is read again, the reasons Paul gives for doing the things that he mentions here.
As this time of prayer comes to an end, speak with Jesus – or perhaps with Ignatius – about what it means to you to live for God’s greater glory.
Using the Suscipe Prayer of St Ignatius of Loyola:
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.