May 2 - Homily for Today

+ Athanasius was born in 295 at Alexandria, Egypt. He studied the classics and theology there. He then became a deacon, student, and secretary of the bishop of Alexander of Alexandria. He attended the Council of Nicea in 325 where he fought for the defeat of Arianism and acceptance of the full divinity of Jesus. Here the doctrine of homo-ousianism which says that Christ is the same substance as the Father was promulgated. Arianism taught that Christ was different from, and a creation of, the Father; a creature, and not part of, God.

Athanasius became Bishop of Alexandria in 328 (at the age of 33) and served for 46 years. When the dispute over Arianism spilled over from theology to politics, Athanasius got exiled five times, spending more than a third of his episcopate in exile. Biographer of St. Anthony the Abbot, Confessor of the faith and Doctor of the Church, he fought for the acceptance of the Nicene Creed – which is an optional Profession of Faith available for every Sunday celebration in the Catholic Church to this day.

Athanasius died on May 2, 373 at Alexandria of natural causes – his relics are at St. Croce, Venice, Italy. In 1568 he was proclaimed one of the four great Doctors of the Church in the East alongside Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom.

The readings today fit the feast well:  St. John tells us in the first reading that the one with faith will be able to understand what is happening in the world, and will be able to conquer it: faith in the Son of God, as fully divine, of one substance with the Father is like an impregnable shield against all adversaries; the gospel passage reminds all committed disciples that persecution awaits them, but that this same faith and trust in the name of Jesus will be their rock and refuge: the work of evangelization and confessing the faith must be done – and with the Lord’s own Spirit and strength it shall be accomplished. Thank you God for these precious gifts!

As was said long ago, and which applies today: The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom!