st. ignatius: 28th week wednesday 2012 II

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch who was martyred in the year 107.  The church remembers him very well for he was the successor of St. Peter in the church of Antioch where for the first time the followers of Jesus were called Christians.  St. Ignatius became also the first to refer to the Christian community as catholic by calling it the Catholic Church.  St. Ignatius is well remembered because while he was being brought to Rome to be executed he wrote letters to different churches along the way.  He wrote seven letters in all, all of which have become part of the office of readings in our breviary.  When he arrived in Rome escorted by soldiers he was led to the amphitheater where he was devoured by two fierce lions.

One of the things Ignatius fought was the heresy called the Docetism who denied the human nature of Christ – Christ was not a human being.  Probably this group could not bear the thought that Christ became like us in all things but sin.  Probably the viewed him as somebody is holy, so other he could not and did not probably assume the despicable nature of a human being.  But you see that’s the problem – when we come to view the human person as solely inutile, as solely despicable without seeing its capacity, potential and greatness.  What is wrong with being human?  What is wrong with having flesh and blood?  What is wrong with having weaknesses and failures?

People who do not have the capacity to see the human person in all its giftedness and choose to see only its frailty will be bound to believe in such heresy called the Docetists.

Thus Ignatius of Antioch would end his life in one of his letters asking the people, Pray for me, he said, so that I may not fail the test.

As you study for your exams, be aware of your capacity and potential – you are after all an empowered human being.  In the same way be aware also of your weaknesses and limitations – you are after all a frail human being.