The Memorial of St Aloysius Gonzaga

Gen. 12:2-9, Mt. 7:1-5. Abram’s call by God to leave HIS home and move to another country marked the beginning of Israel’s salvation history. The mystery of divine providence cannot be explained in any logical way, why some are chosen and others seem relatively unchosen. The classic explanation is offered in today's first reading: “It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you are the smallest of all nations. It was because the Lord loved you, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery” (Deut. 7:7-8). Abram left Haran in upper Syria, going into an unknown land and leaving behind his relatives and his home and everything he knew, for the sake of a promise and blessing. Even the new land was also to remain promised, never completely possessed. God said to Israel: “The land is mine; you are but aliens who have become my tenants” (Lev. 25:23).

Land was to be shared, so that no one would be homeless among God’s people. Never to possess it absolutely, but always to receive it as a gift meant that Israel was to be “the smallest of all nations.” The ideals of love and humility are implicit in today’s Gospel. The humble person cannot be judgmental towards others: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?" The Lord wants us to examine ourselves carefully before turning the spotlight of criticism on others. We need to be in touch with our own humanity before we offer judgment on others and then the more we know ourselves the less inclined we will be to accuse others of bad faith. Humble people will not lose the promised land, the divine blessing promised to Abram. St Aloysius Gonzaga whose memorial we celebrate in humility, faith and commitment to the Lord offered himself from a young age. Aloysius was born into a noble family, as the eldest born and was expected to succeed his father and inherit his possessions. However, as he experienced the brutality and wickedness of the society of his time, gradually turned to the Christian faith which led him to walk down a path of commitment to the Lord, eventually abandoning all of his inheritance and status and joined the Society of Jesus.

As we begin this week, may the Lord be with us in all our trials and may we never be allowed to fall away from God! Amen!!! Good morning and have a fruitful week!!!