October 17, 2016

Ignatius of Antioch

October 17, 2016:  St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr



  • 'Ruler' suspenders:  "You once followed the 'ruler' of the power of the air." (weekday 1st reading)
  • 'Sheep' tie bar:  "We're God's people, the flock he tends." (weekday psalm)
  • 'Blood drop' pin, red shirt:  Martyrdom of St. Ignatius
  • Crucifix:  redemption in Christ Jesus, savior, whom God set forth as an expiation, by his blood (feast 1st reading)
  • 'Wheat' pin:  "I'll build larger barns to store my grain..." (weekday gospel); "Unless a grain of wheat dies..." (feast gospel); St. Ignatius, wheat of Christ
  • 'Lion' pin:  St. Ignatius ground by beasts (feast)
Listen
For weekday gospel

For Psalm 100
St. Ignatius of Antioch
Universalis:  2nd bishop of Antioch after St. Peter; wrote letters about Christ, Church structure, and Christian life.  Arrested, sentenced to death, thrown to wild beasts in the arena; described soldiers escorting him as like “ten leopards, who when they are kindly treated only behave worse.”  See also Catholic Encyclopedia.
    Today's patristic reading is the famous excerpt from his letter to the Romans; look below "I am God's wheat and shall be ground by the teeth of wild animals." Here's the whole letter, context, and more, also from Universalis.
    Read
      Weekday
        More storage?
        Animate
      • Eph 2:1-10  You were dead in your sins, following the wishes of the flesh like we did.  But God brought us to life with Christ and seated us in heaven to show his grace and kindness.  You've been saved through faith, not works; it's God's gift.  We're created in Christ for good works.
      • Ps 100:1b-5  "The Lord made us, we belong to him."  Sing to and serve the Lord God who made us.  He is good, kind, and faithful.
      • Lk 12:13-21  "Guard against greed; life isn't possessions.  Rich man without space to store harvest / God:  'I'll build larger barns to store my goods, then say, “You're set!"' / ‘Fool, tonight your life will be demanded of you.  Whose will your stuff be then?’  If you store treasure for yourself but aren't rich in what matters to God, it'll be like that for you."
      Memorial
      Wordle: Readings 10-17-14 Ignatius
      • Phil 3:17-4:1  Imitate me; stand firm.  We're citizens of heaven; Christ will change our body to conform with his.
      • Ps 34:2-9  "The Lord delivered me from all my fears."  Praise God always.  Look to him; be radiant.  He saved me, saves all who fear him.  Taste and see Lord's goodness; take refuge.
      • Jn 12:24-26  If a wheat grain dies, it produces fruit; otherwise it's just a grain.  If you love life, lose it.  To serve me, follow me; Father will honor you.
       Reflect
        • Creighton:  Many of us are blessed with jobs and resources that allow us to live comfortably, but we can't ignore those on the margins. 
          Unless a grain of wheat...
        • It's my duty and joy to be charitable and in solidarity with those on the margins, to give, and to work to change structures that perpetuate economic disparity.  All of God’s children are worthy of love and dignity; we're all called to be rich in what matters to God. 
        • Passionist:  The rich man in the parable, believing life consists of possessions, congratulates himself on the harvest (though he may not have worked the fields and he doesn't express gratitude).  He has more grain than he needs but doesn't share it.  Greed hardens our hearts and closes us to those in need; we can forget our security comes from God, not wealth.  The man wasn't "rich in what matters to God."  We're "created in Christ Jesus" for good works, not to amass a personal fortune.  Spend your life blessing others with God's love, grace, mercy, kindness, and generosity, and gain true riches.
        • DailyScripture.net:  "Storing up true riches":  Jesus saw that the inheritance dispute was greed, not fairness.  "Don't worship idols" and "Don't covet" are the flip side of "Love God" and "Love your neighbor."  Jesus warned the man who wanted half of his brother's inheritance to "beware of covetousness."  Coveting is wishing to get wrongfully what another possesses.  "Greed wants to divide; love wants to gather.  "Guard against greed" means 'fill yourselves with love....'  He said, 'Master, tell my brother to divide the inheritance'; we say, 'Master, tell my brother he may have my inheritance.'" (Augustine, Sermons 265.9)
          Jesus reinforces his point with a parable about a foolish rich man.  Jesus faults him for his egoism and selfishness; the parable is similar to that of the rich man and Lazarus.  The fool, consumed with possessions, had no concern for others.  In giving we receive.  What do I treasure?
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