Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of St. Ignatius, October 7th, 2023
Texts: Romans 1:16-25; Psalm 19: 2-5; Luke 11:37-41 

St. Paul helps us,  today, to have a look at the Meaning of the Gospel. What is the gospel to you? What is the gospel to me? The meaning of the gospel St. Paul tells us today is not found in the meaning of the word; it is the meaning we find in living the gospel. By the meaning of the word the gospel means “ the good news”. In living it, the gospel is the power of God for salvation. If this meaning of the gospel still eludes us, we are far from living the gospel.  

It is the meaning of the gospel for those who have Faith. Without faith, we cannot live the gospel. It is he who has faith in the gospel that lives it. Hence, St. Paul says, “It is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  

Those who have faith experience the gospel as power. It is power because it influences the ways of life, moves the faithful to act and creates effect. If we hear the gospel and our lives still remain the same, we are yet to experience it as power. We are yet to experience it as power because we have no faith in it. Because we have no faith in it we do not live it. We have faith in it when we accept it as the truth, the way and the life. For those who have faith, where there is no gospel, there is no truth, no way and no life. So also it should be for us, if we have faith. 

It is the power that makes us holy

St. Paul reminds us that it is not just any power but the power of God. Being the power of God, it is holy because God is holy. It is power that makes us walk in the ways of the Lord. It is power that moves us to do the will of God and creates holy effect in us. Then, it is the power that makes us holy. Hence, St. Paul says, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live.’" 

The Gospel as the power of God is for salvation. The acceptance of the gospel is acceptance of salvation. It is contradictory to accept the gospel and yet have no salvation. The gospel is not just words but salvation to the people. It is not just about the saving act of God in human history; it is the saving act of God at work presently in human life.  

The memorial of  St. Ignatius

St. Ignatius, whose memorial is today, was a bishop. “He wrote seven letters to various churches, in which he dealt wisely and deeply with Christ, the organisation of the Church, and the Christian life.” His writings shed light on the early history of the Church and reveal a deeply holy man who accepts his fate and begs the Christians in Rome not to try to deprive him of the crown of martyrdom.” He teaches us to have concern for Church, one another. 

Prayer  

Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendour, so it may be for us unending protection. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke