October 17, 2012

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Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

St. Ignatius of Antioch, whom Christ took in His arms:

Mark 9:36

King James Version (KJV)

36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

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Lectionary: 469

Reading 1 from St. Paul's epistle to the Galatians

Gal 5:18-25

Brothers and sisters:

If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Some people have a problem understanding this statement.  And I don't know why.  Let's take an example of a two men on the freeway.  One is observing the speed limit.  He is free from the law.  He has nothing to fear.  The other is speeding, driving faster than the law allows.  He is under the law.  He has to constantly make certain that no law enforcement officer is nearby or he will be penalized.

If we live by the Law of the Spirit, we are free from the Ten Commandments because we fulfill them.

If we are not living according to the Law of the Spirit, we will suffer the punishments which God has ordained for those who do not obey His keep His Commandments.  

Now the works of the flesh are obvious:

immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,

sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,

outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,

dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,

drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.

Note that all these sins violate the Ten Commandments.

I warn you, as I warned you before,

that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Note also that committing these sins which violate the Ten Commandments will keep one from going to Heaven.

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, generosity,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Against such there is no law.

Now, note that all these virtues are in harmony and fulfill the Ten Commandments.

Jesus tells us elsewhere:

Revelation 22:13-15
King James Version (KJV)
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Those who keep the Ten Commandments go to heaven.
Those who don't, will not.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh

with its passions and desires.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Note that St. Paul recognizes that living a righteous life is a sacrifice.  We must crucify ourselves with Christ on the Cross and thus overcome the pangs of the flesh to commit sin. 

We can't simply claim to be spiritual.  We must obey God, the Holy Spirit, whose Commands have been poured into our hearts at Baptism:

Ezekiel 11:19
King James Version (KJV)
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Responsorial Psalm  

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R. (see Jn 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Jesus put the same message in a slightly different way:

Matthew 5:48
King James Version (KJV)
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

In order to inherit eternal life, we must shed love upon all, as our Father in heaven does.  Children always imitate their fathers.  Let us imitate our Father in heaven.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

 Lk 11:42-46

The Lord said:

"Woe to you Pharisees!

You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,

but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.

The Lord continues His reprimand of the Pharisees which He began yesterday.  He is saying that they make lavish tithes in front of the people in the Temple.  But they do not practice the virtues of love which God commands.

These you should have done, without overlooking the others.

You should not neglect either one.   Pay your tithes to God and love your neighbor.

Woe to you Pharisees!

You love the seat of honor in synagogues

and greetings in marketplaces.

Be warned Pharisees!  Your pride before the people is evident to all.

Woe to you!

You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk."

Be careful!  Your sins are hidden from the people, but not from God.  And if you continue in them, you will die in them.

Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,

"Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too."

And one of the students of the law objected saying, "Master, you are insulting us all."

And he said, "Woe also to you scholars of the law!

You impose on people burdens hard to carry,

but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them."

Jesus responded with a reprimand to them as well, saying that they make the faith of God difficult to live.  Instead of helping people to achieve righteousness, they become obstacles to them.

Sincerely,

De Maria