St Anthony Of Padua

2Cor 1:18-22
Mtt 5:13-16

In today’s first reading, Paul tells us that the answer to all our prayers and God’s promises are found in Christ. God assures us of this and has sent us the Holy Spirit who is present in us always as our Helper to enlighten us.
From the Sermon on the Mount, He speaks to us again today that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We were made for greatness to share in the divine life of God. We were brought out of darkness into eternal light. We are the light of the world.

Our world is in need of the true light that will guide it out of conflict and the darkness of sin into the true radiance of the Father’s glory. We are that light but if we don’t let our light shine then the world will never be saved.
We are called upon today to say ‘yes’ to the Lord, as Paul tells us Christ did. Our sincere, hospitable, caring for others is a way of giving glory to God – of saying “Yes” to God. This act of kindness we do without knowing it, God knows. This is true especially if we say a little prayer or offer our attitude to God as a gift of praise. Others will be blessed by God because of our being concerned for them. How can you intensify the goodness of a brother or sister and shed light on his/her being a person loved by God?

Christ enlightens the mind and heart of St. Anthony of Padua whose memorial we celebrate today. His closeness to the heart of Jesus made him one of the most famous saints in the history of the Catholic Church. A renowned preacher and wonder worker. May God give us the grace to radiate His light and truth to others in words and deeds. Amen

Fr Joseph Osho