+Memorial of St Anthony
(Introduction) It seems to me especially appropriate this morning that we have the story of David and Goliath on this memorial of St Anthony. David saying to Goliath: “I come against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel that you have insulted.” St Anthony also engaged the powers of evil, only overcoming them through total reliance on the grace of God in his life. So as we enter into the celebration of these holy mysteries let us be mindful of those times when we have failed to put our trust in God…
(After the Gospel) Our gospel this morning has Jesus also facing the powers of darkness. The Pharisees failed to recognize Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure the man with a withered hand on the sabbath. It is all too easy for any of us to get locked into our own way of thinking as to what is good and evil. One sees this in the polarization that is taking place in politics today and even within the Church. Discernment is so important in our lives today if we are going to truly live the gospel.
What we find in the great St Anthony is one who struggled daily with what was going on in his heart, ever ready to do whatever God may ask of him. Thus he is for us today an outstanding model of how to live as Christians, or to be truly monks.
1Sam 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Mark 3:1-6