O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes. — Psalm 26:3

Mass readings: Genesis 19:15-29 / Matthew 8:23-27 

The Secret of Life 

Irenaeus, the bishop, martyr and Church Father whose feast is celebrated today, lived in the second century after Christ. He probably knew some Christians whose parents or grandparents had been converted personally by the apostles. He worked to unify the Church by fighting heresy and played an important role in choosing which Scriptures would comprise the New Testament. 

Perhaps his most famous words are these: “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Although that line has sometimes been quoted to mean, “Do what makes you happy,” Irenaeus was clear about what it means to be alive. “It is impossible to live without life,” he wrote, “and the actualization of life comes from participation in God, while participation in God is to see God and enjoy His goodness.”

Prayer: In You alone, Lord, am I fully alive.