Year A
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Ephesians 1:15-23
Psalm 8:2-3a.4-5.6-7 (R.see 6a)
Luke 12:8-12
STEADFAST FAITH IN CHRIST
Yesterday as we talked about the fact that the Holy Spirit is the Person who makes it possible for us to be part of the body of Christ, we realized that wherever Love flows, there God's throne is. This should help us to also realize that when Love flows from us also, God's throne is within us because where one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity is, all are.
Today we commemorate the memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch also known as Theophilus whom the gospel of Luke and Acts of Apostles was addressed to (cf. Luke 1:1, and Acts 1:1). He was born around 35 A.D and died a Martyr at 107 A.D as the Second Bishop of Antioch. He was accused of Atheism, that is not believing in the Roman gods. Christians where know as Atheists at that time because they were deemed as not following the gods of the Romans and he as Christian bishop who believes in the Only one God who is Triune was arrested. His steadfast faith in Christ Jesus was overwhelming, he chose to die for Christ against all odds.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch"Now I begin to be a disciple. … Let fire and cross, flocks of beasts, broken bones, dismemberment … come upon me, so long as I attain to Jesus Christ."
Today in the first reading, we hear everything has been placed under the feet of Christ Jesus, and he he has been made head of all things for the Church, which is his body.
Jesus Christ is the Lord of all things including us, and we must be willing to be faithful to him always as his servants, members of his body. We must have faith in God. We must Love Jesus Christ against all odds. Since yesterday we realized that when we allow the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts, Love will flow from us, and God's throne will be in us, let us observe that without Faith we cannot Love or allow Love to come into us.
The evidence of the Love for God is steadfast faith in God. Faith is the evidence of Love, when faith departs, sincerity is lost.
So Jesus Christ in today's gospel says if we remain steadfast in faith and acknowledge him before men, he will also acknowledge us before the angels of God. Why before the angels of God?
Firstly, angels in Hebrew language are literally "the messengers of God." Even the Greek Word angelos, means angel or messenger. That is why the nature of the angels is still difficult to understand, and they are only known by their function as messengers.
Secondly, in the Old Testament before the word of God took flesh and tent among us, there are some instances in the Old Testament, where references to an angel seem to be quite clearly to the Son, thus pre-incarnation. Thus it could mean that Jesus Christ is saying specifically that the messages from God that he brought to us when we don't have faith in him, he who is the ultimate message from God to us will also reject us.
It is simple as that, you are rejecting the word of God, you are rejecting God's message, which means you have resolved not to repent. That is why Jesus Christ said; sins against him will be forgiven but that against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit through whom as we saw yesterday we are made members of the body of Christ Jesus is when we reject the forgiveness of our sins.
CCC 1864"There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.”
In short, we can sin against the Holy Spirit if we do accept that our sins can be forgiven. If in Revelation 22:1, the Holy Spirit is the river of life flowing from the Temple ( God Almighty and the Lamb), and the Cross is the temple that Ezekiel saw with the water of life flowing from its side, and as Jesus Died on the Cross, water and blood flowed from his side, then let's accept with faith that through Jesus's death and resurrection, our Sin are forgiven for there is no limit to God's mercy.
By Sylvester Amakye-Quayson
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