October 17, 2026
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr
IMITATING A BISHOP
The Text: Philippians 3:17-4:1
In 2017, Harvard Business Review released what they called the top 4 characteristics of a high-performing CEO. Based on research, they discovered that effective CEO’s make decisions quickly with conviction, make an impact, are adaptable, and deliver results.[1] It will come as no surprise to you that in the early church, these were not the qualities that congregations sought in their new leaders. As the earliest churches demonstrate, churches were focused on different qualities.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul advised the church, “Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.” Imitation is the best form of discipleship for congregations like Philippi and parishes like ours.
So, we might ask ourselves today, which qualities are worth imitating? Generosity, volunteering, participation in the Mass, and confession are worthy characteristics. But the Saint whom we remember today remarked on one often-overlooked trait: that of silence.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Ignatius told this congregation that “The more anyone observes that a Bishop is discreetly silent, the more he should stand in fear of him.” The Bishop’s silence indicated his leadership, his ability to listen deeply to the Lord and listen to the people.
So when applying it to his congregation, Ignatius informed them, “It is better to keep silence and be something than to talk and be nothing . . . he who has made the words of Jesus his own is able also to hear His silence. Thus, he will be perfect: He will act through his speech and be understood through his silence.”
Our world seems to have a lot to say about everything. Before responding, we should listen for Jesus’ voice. We listen to the people who have requests, and we listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to us. Only then are we conducting ourselves according to Paul’s model.
So, today, look around for the introverts. They might have nothing to say—and that is something worth hearing!
[1] https://hbr.org/podcast/2017/05/4-behaviors-of-top-performing-ceos.
Photo By Pier Leone Ghezzi – https://barberinicorsini.org/artwork/?id=WE5180, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166610724