Bible
Study: 1 Kings 21, 1 to 16 and Matthew 5, 38 to 42.
The story of how King Ahab
forcefully obtained the vineyard of Naboth through the antics of his wicked
wife Jezebel is one gruesome episode that reminds us of how many have died and
many still die all because of land tussle!
Ahab was the king, he had
all the money he needed to purchase any land of his choice, but the only thing
Naboth had was the land he had inherited from his fathers and he would not
relinquish it for any amount to the king. Ahab suddenly become sad like a baby
since he could not get the land he so desired.
When we lack contentment, we
remain poor forever. This is because the desire for something we cannot get
makes us believe we do not have anything. At that point, Ahab was crying as if
he didn’t have other lands, gold, silver or other property.
Dear friends, contentment is
the key. We cannot possibly have everything we desire. Do not sob over anything
material because you did not come to earth with it and when you die, you will
surely leave it behind. Learn to value what is yours and by so doing, you will
always be rich no matter how little you have.
Jesus continues his sermon
on the mount today telling us that we should not resist anyone who is evil. Does
this mean we should not try to stop or persuade evil people to change their
ways? He says; “if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other
also…” But what did Jesus do when a soldier gave him a dirty slap during his
trial before the high priest? Did he turn the
other cheek? Jesus said, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong.
But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" John 18, 23.
In other
words, what Jesus is saying is not that we should support evil people and allow
them do what they like, he is saying we should not try to fight evil with evil.
Rather, we should conquer evil with love.
Today
we celebrate the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua. His life is indeed a great
inspiration to us. Saint Anthony was born Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal.
He was born into a wealthy family and by the age of fifteen asked to be sent to
the Abbey of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, the then capital of Portugal. During his
time in the Abbey, he learned theology and Latin.
Fernando
eventually received permission to leave the Abbey so he could join the new
Franciscan Order. When he was admitted, he changed his name to Anthony. Anthony
then traveled to Morocco to spread God's truth. So simple and resounding was
his teaching of the Catholic Faith, most unlettered and the innocent could
understand his messages. It is for this reason he was declared a Doctor of the
Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946.
Once,
when St. Anthony of Padua attempted to preach the true Gospel of the Catholic
Church to heretics who would not listen to him, he went out and preached his
message to the fish. When critics saw the fish begin to gather, they realized
they should also listen to what Anthony had to say.
He
was only 36-years-old when he died and was canonized less than one year
afterward by Pope Gregory IX. Upon exhumation some 336 years after his death,
his body was found to be corrupted, yet his tongue was totally incorrupt, so
perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it. He is typically
depicted with a book and the Infant Child Jesus and is commonly referred to today
as the "finder of lost articles."
Let us Pray:
Almighty ever living God,
who gave St. Anthony of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor
in their need, grant that, with his assistance as we follow the teachings of
the Christian faith, we may know you help in every trial. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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