Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time. Year II (St. Anthony of Padua, Priest/Doctor). Reflection by Rev. Fr. Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese)


1 Kgs.18:41-46; Ps.65; Matt.5:20-26

No one likes lip service, least of all, God. Pleasing God means we may sometimes have to displease ourselves. Yes! It means making untold sacrifices. Today, Jesus continues his homily on the Mount. He makes himself the authority behind the reinterpretation of the Mosaic laws. “You have heard it said…” (old law). “…but I say…” (new law). Jesus being God knows what is best for us in every situation. Notice that Jesus does not say ‘if you notice that you have something against your brother’. Rather, He says, ‘if you notice that your brother has something against you’.

Friends, this means we don’t need to wait for the wrong party to initiate forgiveness. We should be moved to go out of our way to regain a brother or sister even if they’re the ones in the wrong. St Antony of Padua understood this perfectly, and this informed his decision to go out of his way to preach God’s goodness in Africa. From an Augustinian monk to a Franciscan Friar, he preached from Morocco to Sicily, from Italy to France and back to Padua in Italy – his sermons were as severe as they were gentle, leading many back to God. I too must ask myself how I can win back brothers and sisters to Christ, irrespective of what ills they may have done to me in the past.

Prayer : Heavenly Father, thank You so much for this new day. May Your love so envelope me and my household that all ill feelings, resentment, malice or hatred that I feel against any of my brethren may fade into insignificance, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Good morning dear; God bless your day ahead. St. Anthony of Padua, pray for us!

Readings for the Day

FIRST READING

Elijah prayed, and: i the heaven gave rain (James 5. 18).

A reading from the first Book of Kings (1 Kings18:41-46)

In those days: Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look towards the sea.” And he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again seven times.” And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising out of the sea.” And he said, “GO up; say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.”’ And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 

Psalm 65:10abcd.10c-11.12-13 (R. 2ab)  .R/. Praise is due to you in Sion, O God.

You visit the earth, give it water; you fill it with riches.God’s ever-flowing river brims overto prepare the grain. R/.

And thus you provide for the earth:you drench its furrows; you level it,soften it with showers; you bless its growth. R/.R/.

Praise is due to you in Sion, O God.You crown the year with your bounty.Abundance flows in your pathways;in pastures of the desert it flows.The hills are girded with joy. R/.

ALLELUIA John 13:34Alleluia.

A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Alleluia.

GOSPEL    ”Every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:20-26)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool! ‘shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the  altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, 1 say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.”

The Gospel of the Lord.