Anthony of Padua, the Prophet Elijah and the Rest of Us

Homily for June 13, 2018.


“Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men’.” 1 Kings 18:22.

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua. 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.

Like Anthony, Elijah faced a very difficult time trying to preach to the people. They just wouldn’t listen. He was just one man compared to the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. We like in world where evil is more popular than good. To stand for the truth, to stand for righteousness and holiness is to stand alone. Anthony and Elijah stood alone, they never shifted grounds just to win the love and admiration of the people.

While Anthony turned to preach to animals, Elijah dared all the prophets of Baal to a contest. The truth of the matter is that when we dare to stand alone, when we dare to be different, something happens: God Himself comes in to stand by us. God made the fish listen to Anthony. God gave Elijah victory in the contest. God never abandons those who place all their trust in him.

Jesus makes us understand in today’s Gospel passage that he had not come to abolish the Law (the Old Testament) but to fulfil it. The teachings of Jesus do not contradict the Old Testament neither did Jesus declare the Law to be null and void. The Sermon on the Mount does not replace the Ten Commandments rather it complements it. We should remember that making heaven entails not only keeping the commandments of God but also teaching others.

Of course, we are not always going to find it easy to keep the commandments of God. There are times we would find ourselves completely alone like one swimming against the tide. In such moments, let us remember persons like Elijah or St. Anthony. Never give up on doing the right thing.

St. Anthony of Padua 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: Lord Jesus, help me to remain with you even if means being the last man standing. Amen.


*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Kings 18:20-39, Psalm 16:1-11, Matthew 5:17-19).*

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