St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

 “ I have no faste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God,

which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, who was of the seed of David and for drink;

I desire his blood, which is love incorruptible. “

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Romans 4:1-8

Let us consider Abraham,

Our father in the flesh. What has he found? If Abraham attained righteousness because of his deeds,

he could be proud. But he cannot be this before God; because Scripture says: Abraham believed God,

who took it into account, and held him to be a just man.

 

Now, when someone does a work, salary is not given as a favor, but as a debt that is paid.

Here, on the contrary, someone who has no deeds to show, but believes in him, who makes sinners righteous before him:

such faith is taken into account, and that person is held as righteous. David congratulates, in this way,

those who become righteous, by the favor of God, and not by their actions:

Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven and whose offenses are forgotten; blessed the one,

whose sin God does not take into account!

 

Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11

I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

 Luke 12:1-7

Meanwhile, such a numerous crowd had gathered that they crushed one another.

Then Jesus spoke to his disciples in this way, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees,

which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered; or hidden, that will not be made known.

Whatever you have said in darkness will be heard in daylight,

and what you have whispered in hidden places, will be proclaimed from housetops.

 

I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who put to death the body and, after that, can do no more.

But I will tell you whom to fear: Fear the one who, after killing you, is able to throw you into hell.

This one you must fear. Don't you buy five sparrows for two pennies? Yet not one of them has been forgotten by God.

Even the hairs of your head have been numbered. Don't be afraid! Are you less worthy in the eyes of God than many sparrows?

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"The yeast of the Pharisees."

During the reign of the Emperor Trajan, Ignatius, the third Bishop of Antioch, was condemned for being a Christian

and sent to Rome to face martyrdom. Along the way, he dictated seven letters that have been left

to the Church as a precious witness to his faith and to the life of the early Church.

 

In his letter to the Ephesians, Saint Ignatius challenges people to not be hypocrites

in their practice of their Christian faith by speaking Christ's name in a careless fashion or by failing to connect their behavior to their beliefs.

Jesus warns the disciples not to be tainted with "the yeast of the Pharisees,"

that is, their hypocrisy. And so, our lives should have an integrity about them.

 

We shouldn't try to keep aspects of our behavior apart from the Gospel,

so that its light won't shine on them and show them to be lacking in virtue or in respect for God's commandments.

Ignatius says life begins and ends with two qualities. Faith is the beginning; love is the end and the two together are God.

Let's avoid distractions and live in faith and love. Let's live in God.