Contemplating to attain love of God

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday in the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time, Year II, 31 July 2026
Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Glory and praise
to you, O God our loving
Father for the gift of 
St. Ignatius of Loyola
who taught us that
"Man is created 
to praise, reverence, 
and serve God our Lord,
and by this means 
to save his soul"
(First Principle and Foundation,
Spiritual Exercises #23).

How sad,
dear God, 
that the most painful
truth is that you are most 
often rejected by us 
who assume to know you most,
too familiar with you and
your ways like what
our two readings reveal today:
Jeremiah was rejected 
by your people 
led by their priests
after speaking your words
to them to change their evil
ways lest their Temple lie in ruins
like in Shiloh along with
other disasters God was planning
to punish them (Jeremiah 26:4, 7-9);
in the gospel,
Jesus went home to Nazareth
but "the people took offense
at him" for his mighty
words and deeds
(Matthew 13:57-58).

Two scenarios,
same message
of rejecting you,
O God because we 
believe more in our selves,
in our ideas and understanding
of who you are than believing
your very person in
Jesus Christ;
teach us, O Lord,
to be empty always
so that you may fill us 
with your love
like St. Ignatius
who taught us to 
pray and contemplate
to attain your love:
"Take, Lord,
and accept 
all my liberty,
my memory,
my understanding,
and my entire will,
all that I have and possess.
Thou hast given all to me.
To Thee, O Lord, I return it.
All is Thine,
dispose of it wholly
according to Thy will.
Give me Thy love
and Thy grace,
for this is sufficient 
for me" 
(#234, Spiritual Exercises).

All for your greater glory,
O Lord.
Amen.