Homily: June 28, 2016 - St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Without a doubt, St. Irenaeus is one of the greatest theologians of the early Church.  St Irenaeus was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who himself heard St. John the Apostle preach. 

Like St. Cyril whom we honored yesterday, Irenaeus was called to uphold the truth of Christ that comes to us from the Apostles. Ireneaus, was a bishop three centuries earlier, and he faced what is probably the first major heresy the Church had to confront: Gnosticism. 

The word ‘gnostic’ comes from the greek word for knowledge, as in the word cognizant.  Gnosis—knowledge is a good thing.  It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah sings how God gives his people knowledge of salvation. We have a strong philosophical tradition which confirms the role of knowledge in understanding our faith.

The Gnostic Heretics however claimed to have a secret knowledge of God that was superior to the Apostles. In other words, they thought they knew better than the Church. 

Bishop Irenaeus preached and taught and wrote against the Gnostics of his day, but that old heresy has shown its face in every age of the Church.  How many times have you heard the following:  “Jesus doesn’t really care if I go to Church every week.”  “I don’t need to confess my sins to a priest.”  “Jesus doesn’t mind if I live with my girlfriend or we use contraception, we’ve prayed about it.”

Irenaeus maintained that the Christian Faith isn’t about coming to secret knowledge. It’s about obedience to what is taught by the Apostles. 

When the Church teaches on matters of faith and morals, she is teaching with the authority given to her by the Lord Jesus, she speaks and teaches in his name the truth necessary for our salvation.

Our Christian faith isn’t about these small private revelations that let us break the commandments as long as we pray about it.  And the rich apostolic tradition of the Church isn’t bizarre or arcane, or only understandable by a few, as the Gnostics taught.

Rather, as Ireneaus  affirmed, the faith is internally consistent, it is logical, it is comprehensible, and understandable by all peoples.   

St. Irenaeus urges us to uphold the true doctrine of the faith with our lives, for he is celebrated as a martyr, killed for his devotion to Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life.  With the help of his prayers, may we come to be made worthy of the promises of Christ, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.