Homily for Memorial of St. Justin

Homily for the Memorial of St. Justin

June 1, 2021
Tuesday, Week 
9 of O.T.
Collect
Mark 12: 13-17
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Home, New Rochelle, N.Y.

“Thru the folly of the cross, you wondrously taught St. Justin the Martyr the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ” (Collect).

Justin was a Greek philosopher from Palestine, born at the beginning of the 2d century.  He sought wisdom in the various teachings of the Greeks until the wisdom of Christianity was shown to him.  He converted and went to Rome to teach what he knew to be the true philosophy, founded not on myths but on divine reason, on the Logos, God’s Word.

Justin explained Christianity to the Roman public, especially the philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius, in 2 apologies, i.e., defenses of the faith.  In one of them he describes the Christian liturgy of mid-2d century, which we clearly recognize as the same form of worship that we have today.

In today’s gospel (Mark 12:13-17), Jesus gives his famous teaching on balancing what we owe to God and what we owe to Caesar, or the state.  In Justin’s time, Caesar demanded worship, even to the point of claiming the title “Lord.”  When Christians reserved that title to God, or to Christ in particular, their allegiance became suspect.  Despite explanations of Christian rites, such as Justin’s, their secrecy—necessary in the face of public hostility and persecution—also made them suspect.

So, in 165 Justin and others were arrested and tried, in effect for treason, like countless martyrs until our own time.  And they were executed.

We who strive to pay to God what he’s due—everything—will always have a price to pay for our “steadfastness in the faith” (Collect).  We pray for ourselves and especially for our brothers and sisters facing harassment and persecution, that our hearts may remain “firm, trusting in the Lord” (Responsory).  Our steadfastness in a skeptical age, especially among the young—perhaps our own nephews and nieces—may help steady their faith.