The Importance of Education

Oct 17: Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

St. Ignatius was among the first generation of Christians after the apostles; in fact, he probably personally knew John the Apostle. When he became bishop in 77, he the third bishop of Antioch. Like, ever.

He served during a time of persecution, when many Christians were martyred. When mass executions didn’t seem to deter them, the emperor decided to execute many in the leadership, including the Bishop of Antioch.

Ignatius wrote several letters on his way to Rome. We only consider the writing of the apostolic generation to be biblical revelation, but his writings were still full of insight and inspiration to the persecuted Christians of the early Church—“Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ’s pure bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.”

Educated men like Ignatius (and before him, Paul), spread the Gospel with letters. But education alone isn’t enough, as Jesus teaches us. We must also have faith.

Reading 1

Eph 1:1-10

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

In Christ we have redemption by his Blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

Besides being important politically (it was the capital city of Asia Minor), Ephesus was also a religious hub. The Temple of Diana drew people from all over the Hellenistic world

Knowing the cultural context, Paul begins his letter in an unusual way—with a blessing of God, similar to the traditional Jewish berakah. Besides being an important prayer to God, it’s also a way of reminding the Christians where they come from. He does not want them falling for the sophistry of Greek philosophers.

These are ancient ideas to us; in fact, many would consider studying Greek philosophy an important foundation of education today. But the Greek and Roman gods had living, breathing followers at the time. Moreover, they were part of the most powerful civilization in the world. The temptation to fall away from the Church would’ve been great.

We live in a time and society with different false teachings, and so our specific concerns have changed. But the broader lesson, to not forget the goodness of God, remains.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.

Israel often thanked God for victory in battle, but more important is victory in our souls. Paul sought to spread the Good News to the ends of the Earth. His work, blessed by God, eventually led to the truth of Christianity being victorious over Pagan beliefs. As we’ll see in the Gospel, Jesus also battled with the over-educated in His area, the Philistines.

Alleluia

Jn 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

We trust in Jesus for forgiveness and redemption to protect us from God’s just punishment.

Gospel

Lk 11:47-54

The Lord said: "Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed. Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building. Therefore, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and Apostles; some of them they will kill and persecute' in order that this generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood! Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."

When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

The Pharisees were supposed to be educated, like lawyers. But they (and their predecessors) rejected the prophets and misinterpreted the law (“You have taken away the key of knowledge.”) What’s worse, they have led their followers astray.

Calling them a wicked generation or mocking their cleansing rituals didn’t bother the Pharisees; maybe they thought it was funny, or just didn’t regard Jesus’ opinion as important. But now He insults their education? That’s a bridge too far. Now they decide to start plotting against Him.

Jesus is willing to say the truth, no matter how unpopular it is. It winds up getting Him killed. And that, in turn, is our salvation.