Lectio Divina — Acknowledges
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time | Weekly Theme: Reduced
Lectio — Acknowledges
“Everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.”
Luke 12:8
Today, on the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, I find myself considering what it means to acknowledge Christ. It is one thing to acknowledge him with my lips and quite another to acknowledge him through the ordinary actions of my life. Perhaps the greatest danger is that I reduce my faith to something I profess rather than something I practice.
Meditatio — Acknowledging the Gifts of Creation
Today this Lectio Divina acknowledges the Swiss chard growing in our kitchen garden here at The Glenn. While most other garden plants have succumbed to the shorter days and colder temperatures, the Swiss chard is thriving.
Swiss chard is a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable belonging to the same species as beets. Known for its large, dark green leaves and vibrant, colorful stalks, it is a highly versatile ingredient in Mediterranean and cold-weather cooking. We have been harvesting Swiss chard since late spring and probably will continue until early winter.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Swiss chard share a remarkable trait: they do not merely survive difficult conditions; they can flourish through them and provide nourishment to others.
Just as Swiss chard can become sweeter after a frost, the faith of Saint Ignatius became more profound as the shadow of Roman martyrdom closed in upon him. His circumstances were reduced to imprisonment and the prospect of death, yet his witness to Christ was not reduced. Indeed, his letters continue to nourish the Church nearly two thousand years later.
Here at The Glenn, I wonder whether I can say the same about myself. When the seasons of my life become difficult, do I acknowledge God’s presence and continue to bear fruit? Or do I allow hardship to reduce my gratitude, generosity, and faith?
One practical expression of acknowledgment is the simple act of giving thanks to God before and after meals, especially when those meals feature Swiss chard harvested from our garden.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis encourages believers to recover the beautiful and meaningful custom of offering thanks before and after meals. That brief moment reminds me of my dependence upon God for life, strengthens my gratitude for creation, acknowledges those whose labor provides my food, and reaffirms my solidarity with those in greatest need.
Although prayer before meals is already a habit of mine, I must acknowledge that prayer after meals remains something I need to cultivate. I readily ask God to bless what I am about to receive, but how often do I return to acknowledge what I have received?
Perhaps that is the lesson of the Swiss chard: gratitude should not end when the harvest is gathered or the meal is finished. It should continue to grow, even when the season grows cold.
Oratio — A Prayer of Acknowledgment
Lord Jesus Christ,
You promise to acknowledge before the angels of God those who acknowledge You before others. Teach me to acknowledge You not merely through words, but through the way I receive and share the gifts of creation.
Forgive me when I reduce gratitude to a momentary habit, when I remember to ask for blessings but forget to give thanks after receiving them.
Through the intercession of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, give me a faith that grows stronger through adversity and a heart that remains generous even when circumstances become difficult.
May every harvest at The Glenn remind me of those who labor, those who hunger, and those whose dignity I am called to acknowledge.
And when the meal is finished, let my thanksgiving continue.
Amen.
Contemplatio — Truth as a Common Good
Inspired by Magnifica Humanitas, paragraph 137 — Toward an Ecology of Communication
As I contemplate the Swiss chard thriving in the autumn garden, I am reminded that acknowledging truth requires more than recognizing information. It requires a relationship with reality, with creation, with my neighbor, and ultimately with God.
In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV calls for an ecology of communication grounded in the understanding that truth is a common good, not the possession of those who wield power or influence.
This challenges me because I live in a world where digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and endless streams of information can reduce acknowledgment to a click, a reaction, or a declaration. Yet acknowledging something is not necessarily the same as understanding it, and understanding something is not necessarily the same as loving it.
Saint Ignatius acknowledged Christ through the witness of his life. The Swiss chard acknowledges the changing seasons through its remarkable capacity to continue growing. What does my life acknowledge?
If truth is a common good, then I cannot treat it as my private possession. I must seek it patiently, verify what I encounter, listen to others, and resist the temptation to reduce complex realities to convenient conclusions.
Perhaps an ecology of communication begins with the same humility required for an ecology of creation: acknowledging that I am not the author of everything I receive.
The Swiss chard does not manufacture the sunlight, the soil, or the rain. Neither do I manufacture truth or grace. I receive them as gifts, and my responsibility is to cultivate them faithfully.
In the end, the question is not merely whether I acknowledge Christ before others, but whether my daily relationships, conversations, and actions acknowledge the truth of his presence.
Actio — Living Laudato Si’ and Synodality
Today I will make a conscious effort to pray both before and after meals, acknowledging God’s generosity and the labor of those who provide food.
I will also consider how I communicate with others, especially online. Before sharing information or responding to an opinion, I will ask whether my words acknowledge the dignity of others and contribute to the common good.
Here at The Glenn, I will acknowledge the gifts of creation by harvesting thoughtfully, avoiding waste, and remembering those who do not enjoy the abundance I have received.
In the spirit of synodality, I will strive to listen before speaking, recognizing that truth is something we seek together rather than something I possess alone.
Song Pairing
“For the Beauty of the Earth” — Traditional Christian Hymn
This hymn expresses gratitude for creation, human relationships, and divine generosity. Its recurring thanksgiving reminds me that acknowledgment should continue long after a meal has ended.
Movie Pairing
A Hidden Life (2019)
Terrence Malick’s film portrays Franz Jägerstätter, whose Christian conscience led him to refuse allegiance to Nazi ideology. His quiet fidelity offers a modern parallel to Saint Ignatius: acknowledging Christ through action even when the consequences are severe.
Poetic Reflection — Acknowledges
The autumn garden bends beneath the frost, Yet leaves of green proclaim what is not lost. A martyr's voice, though centuries have passed, Acknowledges a truth designed to last. Before my meal, I bow my head in prayer, And thank the Lord for gifts beyond compare. But when the final morsel disappears, Does gratitude endure beyond those years? The world reduces truth to fleeting claims, And clothes its passing judgments in grand names. Yet chard and saint, each faithful in their place, Remind me truth is cultivated grace. So let my words acknowledge what is true, My hands give thanks in everything I do. And when the harvest ends, may I proclaim: The gift is God's, and blessed be His name.