Reflection for Thursday July 31 Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest: Matthew 13:47-53

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.

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Reflection:

There is a story about a middle-aged man who often found himself pondering a question that many of us quietly carry in our hearts: “Where will I go when I die? Will I end up in heaven or in hell?” This question would echo within him, especially in the stillness of night. 

One night, he had a dream. In that dream, he heard the thunderous yet tender voice of God saying, “You must turn over a new leaf. Repent completely of all the sins you have committed. Otherwise, you will surely end up in hell.” It was a wake-up call—a divine invitation to change, to return to the path of grace. 

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that at the end of the age, there will be a separation between the righteous and the wicked. The wicked will be cast into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and the grinding of teeth. What a sobering and terrifying image this is! Yet, it is not meant to paralyze us with fear, but to stir our hearts into deep reflection and urgency. 

But let us not forget—our Lord is a God of love, mercy, and unfathomable forgiveness. He does not desire that any of His children be lost. That’s why He constantly reaches out to us: through people He sends into our lives, through the Sacraments, and even through trials and hardships. These may seem painful, but they are often disguised invitations to draw closer to Him and walk away from sin. 

Still, the choice remains ours. At the end of the day, we hold the key to our eternal destiny. God has given us the freedom to choose: Will we turn away from sin, or will we cling to it? If we choose to walk away, we step out of the chains of Satan and into the light of God's grace. But if we continue in sin, we must also be prepared to face its eternal consequences. 

Right now, Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, offering us His mercy, love, and forgiveness. He is not condemning us—He is calling us. He longs to embrace us, to heal us, to restore us. — Marino J. Dasmarinas