ANTHONY OF PADUA, Priest, Doctor
The Portuguese saint Anthony of Padua is one of the most venerated saints and possibly the most misused. In his ten years with the Augustinians, he applied himself to the Scriptures, but was then attracted to the radical evangelical life-style of the young Franciscan order. In Italy he became a very effective popular preacher and dedicated himself to his work with so much ardor that he died at the age of 36 at Padua. He did not only preach the gospel but lived it totally.
Reading 1: 2 Cor 1:18-22
Are you now going to accuse me of flip-flopping with my promises because it didn’t work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth—a glib yesone moment, a glib no the next? Well, you’re wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn’t a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be? When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn’t it a clean, strong Yes?
20-22 Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.
Gospel: Mt 5:13-16
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Prayer
Lord our God,
St. Anthony was so filled
with your Son and his gospel
that he could not but make people enthusiastic
about the good news of Jesus Christ.
Let your Son and his word
spring to life in us, we pray you,
that we may live the life of Jesus
and proclaim him to all those around,
for he is our Lord for ever. Amen.