SIGNED BY BLOOD

Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Jn 12:24-26

Born around the later part of the first century, Ignatius succeeded Peter as Bishop of Antioch. He suffered martyrdom in Rome during the Trajan persecution in the year 107. Ignatius wrote seven famous letters to various churches. He taught about the need for sound doctrine and the unity of every Christian community around its bishop as a corporate way of imaging Christ to the world.

Among other things about the writings of Ignatius, it is worth noting that he wrote them while he was being transported to the place of his execution. Thus, Christians of his time celebrated his journey to the place of his martyrdom as a triumphal voyage more than a death march. Today we celebrate the memorial of his martyrdom.

If we were being transported to the place of our death, would we still be writing letters about God? Perhaps, even if we do have the desire to do so, we would not have enough energy to scribble anything. Maybe we would already be too focused on dying that we writing would appear too trivial a thing to waste our last days on.

But not Ignatius of Antioch. He went to his appointment with death still proclaiming his love for God through the letters he wrote to various churches. We can say that he literally wrote his way to death.

I wonder what we would be doing to pass away time as time passes away from us. If we were to write something as we travel to the place of our execution, given that we could write something, what would we write about? Who would we write to?

With his martyrdom at the end of his journey where he wrote his seven famous letters, we may say that Ignatius of Antioch signed his letters with his own blood. How will we sign ours?