Acknowledging Jesus in a World of Unbelief (Saturday, Week 28, Year 2, St Ignatius of Antioch)

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In a marketplace, sellers strive to present their wares as the best in order to lure customers or prospective buyers. This is what we do when we advertise our goods and services. There was a time I was looking for soap and products that will help remove the pimples I had. I came across some soap with a picture of a lady with a beautiful and spotless face. The seller made it impressively clear to me that that was how my face would look like if I use the soap. On the basis of what he said, I was moved to buy it. What he did? He injected some hope in me, and this spurred me to patronize his goods. His words of mouth made me to believe what he said about the soap.

Remember that the letter to the Ephesians was written to make the Christians in Ephesus to have the consciousness that they belong to God. In the first reading (cf. Eph. 1:15-23), St Paul continued to advertise the Christian faith which the Ephesians have willingly embraced. And he prayed that they may receive the spirit of wisdom and knowledge so that they may know what is the hope to which God has called them and the glorious inheritance which the will receive, and the immeasurable power they have in them as those who believe. 

Christ being the Son of God received great power over every created thing; and we being coheirs with Christ have also received the same power and authority of sonship. It could be that the Ephesian Christians were afraid of what they might go through in a culture that was steeped in idolatry and immorality. It could be that they were afraid that other people may count them out in issues that matter in the state on account of their faith. It could be that they were afraid of the stiff and direct persecutions that may await them because they have chosen to be different. It could be threats of elemental powers and spiritual forces. The bottom-line is: they must be aware that they have received immeasurable power in Christ and that glorious inheritance awaits them in future.

And that is why Jesus told his disciples that they must insist in doing what is right, in proclaiming the truth and in following the way. He reminded them that everyone who continues to acknowledge him before people, He will acknowledge before the angels of God; and anyone who denies him, He will deny before the angels of God (cf. Luke 12:8-9). 

Let us continue on the track of goodness despite the bickering and indifference that we may face. Such inheritance that St Paul talked about is not meant for the Ephesians. It is also going to be our lot if we insist to stand by God’s side, by the side of truth and justice. We have been told that what God is preparing for those who love Him, no eye has seen and no ear has heard (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9). Shall we sacrifice our heavenly inheritance on the altar of conformism? Just because everybody has okayed it does not make it right.       




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