Acknowledging Jesus as Lord

Homily for Saturday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time

Today the Church remembers St. Ignatius of Antioch, one of the great witnesses of the early Church. He was the bishop of Antioch, a community that treasured its connection to the apostles, and tradition holds that he was a disciple of St. John. When he was arrested and taken across the Roman Empire to face execution in Rome, he wrote a series of letters that have nourished the Church ever since. What strikes us most is the deep love for Christ that shines through every page. Ignatius knew where his hope was placed, and that hope gave him remarkable courage.

His life helps us understand today's Gospel. Jesus says, "Everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God." Ignatius acknowledged Christ not only with his words but with his entire life. As he journeyed toward martyrdom, he encouraged fellow Christians to remain united, faithful, and steadfast in their love for the Lord.

The source of that courage is found in today's reading from Ephesians. Paul prays that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened so that we may know the hope to which God has called us and experience the immeasurable greatness of God's power. Ignatius had those enlightened eyes. He saw beyond the hardships of the journey, beyond the threat of death, and fixed his gaze on the risen Christ, who reigns above every power and authority.

The psalmist expresses a similar wonder: "What are human beings that you are mindful of them?" We may seem small in the vastness of creation, yet God knows us, loves us, and calls each of us by name. That conviction sustained Ignatius, and it sustains us as well.

I doubt that any of us will be asked to undergo the death of a martyr. However, we can all offer our lives as a witness to our faith by living out our vows faithfully and joyfully. Every day we are given opportunities to acknowledge Christ through kindness, patience, fidelity to prayer, and loving service to those entrusted to our care. In those quiet acts of faithfulness, we join the witness of St. Ignatius and of countless disciples who have allowed the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened by the hope of the Gospel.