Homily: June 1 - St. Justin Martyr - Apologist

St. Justin was a philosopher and martyr, and was probably the most important of the second-century apologist Fathers.  The word apologist designates those ancient Christian writers who set out to defend the new religion from the weighty accusations of both the pagans and Jews, and to spread the Christian doctrine in terms suited to the culture of the time.  So, the apologists had a twofold concern: defending the newborn Christian faith and explaining the content of the faith in a manner comprehensible to their contemporaries.

Justin was born around the year 100, near the ancient city of Schechem in the Holy Land, and was the son of pagan nobles, so he was not raised in the faith.  But he was very well educated, studying poetry, history and science, and he was deeply schooled in the ancient Greek philosophers.  Though he was not raised to know the truth about God, he was certainly on a quest for truth. 

The story of Justin’s conversion is well known.  Justin was walking by the sea near Ceasarea and there he met an old man.  And they began to walk and talk together. Since Justin looked troubled, the man asked him what was on his mind.  Justin answered that he was unhappy because he had not found anything certain about God in all of the books he had read.  The old man spoke to him about the insufficiency of philosophy and urged his to study the Scriptures and the teachings of Christ—of how Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made by the Jewish prophets.  In taking his leave, the old man urged Justin to pray that the gates of light would be opened to him. 

At the end of a long philosophical journey, a quest for the truth, he arrive at the Christian faith.  He founded a school in Rome where, free of charge, he initiated students into the truth of the Christian faith.

At his school, he certainly engaged in apologetics—defending the faith and clearly explaining the faith.  At his Roman school he debated a philosopher named Crescens.  After Crescens lost the debate, he denounced Justin to the authorities.  Justin was then arrested for practicing the unauthorized religion of Christianity.  Before the judge, Justin was asked, "Do you think that by dying you will enter heaven and be rewarded?" "I don't just think so," the saint answered. "I am sure of it!"  He was given the opportunity to renounce the faith and save his life; instead he defended the faith and clearly explained it, with his dying breaths.  He was put to death as a martyr by beheading along with six of his students, five men and one woman, in 166.

There are times when each of us will be called upon by God to defend our faith and clearly explain the faith.  In the early days of the Church, God chose Justin to spread the truth of the faith. He fearlessly defended the gospel of Christ before the powers and principalities and rulers of the day.  Through his prayers may we be bearers and defenders of the Christian faith to all we meet, witnessing to the saving power of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.