Ephesians 1:15-23,
Psalm 8:2-3.4-5.6-7,
Luke 12:8-12 Full Readings
Saint Ignatius of AntiochCourageous Witness to Christ
Jesus says, "everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." This is an excerpt from today's Gospel.
These words from Jesus invite us to have courageous witnesses to Christ in every situation whether we are hated, persecuted, laughed at, intimidated, whether rich or poor, young or old and in every situation. At the end of the Gospel Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit as the guide in our witness to Christ. What happens when we deny Christ in front of others? Jesus tells us that he will deny us also in front of the Angels and his Father. If Jesus denies us, we are also denied eternal life. Do you want to inherit eternal life? Witness Christ in all the situations.
St Ignatius of Antioch, whose feast we celebrate today was a great witness to Christ as he freely and willingly accepted to die as a martyr by being thrown to the wild beasts, this is what he said in his letter to the Christians, when he was condemned to die.
I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ’s purebred. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God. No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.
This statement of St Ignatius of Antioch should also inspire us to be courageous in all situations to witness Christ. The Holy Spirit will tell us and teach us what to say and do in face of trials and temptations if we allow Him to take control over our lives. Brethren, we have to be open to the promptings of the Spirit and to be careful not to blasphemy against the Holy for Jesus tells us that this sin is unforgiven.
Why is the sin against the Holy Spirit so grave not even to be forgiven? Saint John Paul II explains: “‘Blasphemy’ does not properly consist in offending against the Holy Spirit in words; it consists rather in the refusal to accept the salvation which God offers to man through the Holy Spirit, working through the power of the cross” (Dominum et Vivificantem, #46). If we are so hard of heart as to reject the mercy God offers through the Holy Spirit, “it may lead to final impenitence and eternal loss,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1864. May our pride never be so great as to assume we can’t be forgiven for something we’ve done!
Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. It's contrary to the honor and respect we owe to God (who is our Father, Creator, and Savior) and to his holy name. Jesus speaks of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit as the unforgivable sin. Jesus spoke about this sin immediately after the scribes and Pharisees had attributed his miracles to the work of the devil instead of to God. In the missionary context, the mission which was entrusted to the Apostles and to be carried out by the Holy Spirit, to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means to impede the missionary work. To say a word against Jesus, the human, as son of man, is one thing, but to impede or stand against the missionary proclamation is another and cannot be forgiven.
Reflect today on how courageous you are in witnessing Christ and how you are able to let the Spirit guide your mission, your life, without blaspheming against him. May the Spirit guide as you reflect on today's readings.
Let us Pray.
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. Amen.
Be blessed.
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