To call something good is never neutral, because goodness always reveals where our unity, desire, and trust are finally anchored. Ignatius writes to the Ephesians as a man on his way to martyrdom, urging them to cling to unity with their bishop and with one another, because communion with the Church is communion with Christ Himself, and division is never spiritually harmless. Augustine then exposes how vice is parasitic, showing that every sin is a distorted imitation of God—pride mimics God’s greatness, lust mimics His love, and envy mimics His excellence—yet only God truly possesses what sin pretends to grasp. Aquinas finally brings this to its metaphysical foundation by arguing that goodness belongs to God alone by essence, since He alone is being itself, while all created goodness exists only by participation, real yet dependent. Together, these readings teach us that goodness, unity, truth, and life are never self-generated: they flow from God alone and are preserved only by remaining joined to Him in love, order, and humility (John 15:5; James 4:6).

Readings:

Ignatius of Antioch, The Epistle to the Ephesians, Chapters 1–7

Augustine of Hippo, The Confessions, Book 2, Chapter 6 (Section 13)

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 6, Article 3

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