Praise

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
October 17, 2024

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101724.cfm

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6

(The readings I used for today’s reflection are for the Mass for St. Ignatius of Antioch who lived in the century after Jesus. He is not the same person as Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, who lived in the 15th century.)

The passage from Ephesians, so beautifully expressed, encapsulates the character of a true disciple: called by God to holiness, expressing gratitude through a life of praise and mercy.

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy:
We pray to receive God’s blessing and call with grateful hearts, and to live a life reflecting God’s Mercy.

Quote: from Ignatius of Antioch

We recognize a tree by its fruit, and we ought to be able to recognize a Christian by his action. The fruit of faith should be evident in our lives, for being a Christian is more than making sound professions of faith. It should reveal itself in practical and visible ways. Indeed it is better to keep quiet about our beliefs, and live them out, than to talk eloquently about what we believe, but fail to live by it.

Music: Ephesians Hymn – Suzanne Toolan, RSM