Today, we hear Paul’s farewell speech to the elders in Ephesus. What strikes me in the end of this discourse today is how Paul warns them against those who try to divide and tear apart their community, to be on guard to those who will attack them. We need to ask ourselves: Are our words and actions building up the Kingdom of God, or are they tearing others down and creating hurts? From Paul’s words and example, we know that building up God’s kingdom is not for the faint of heart; it takes courage, strength and persistence. But let us never think that, if the task is too difficult, we can relax and let others take the lead. Pope Francis has stated that no matter what our vocation in life, whether it be to the priesthood, consecrated life, the single life as a lay person, or marriage, it is a call to center one's life on Christ and build up his kingdom. Pope Francis explains: "The more we unite ourselves to Jesus through prayer, sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, (and) the sacraments celebrated and lived in the church and in fraternity, the more there will grow in us the joy of cooperating with God in the service of the kingdom of mercy and truth, of justice and peace.”
I would be remiss if I did not mention the remarkable saint we celebrate today on his feast day. St Justin Martyr, the saint whom we celebrate today, must have been recognized in a special way for his dying for the faith, since the term “martyr” is officially attached to his name. Justin was born into a pagan family in the year 100 AD. Even though he was initially attracted to Plato and the Greek philosophers, these philosophers led him to Christ and to conversion to Christianity. Justin is primarily remembered for his Christian apologetics in defending the faith against other religions and other philosophies. In a letter Justin Martyr wrote in 155, he gives us a detailed description of a liturgy in the Early Church, one of the earliest descriptions of such a liturgy. Justin’s description is similar to the flow and elements that we have in mass today. In particular, what strikes me is his description of the Eucharist: “This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation.” Justin Martyr was beheaded in Rome in 165 as a martyr for the faith. St Justin Martyr, pray for us.
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