Memorial of Saint
Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church
(II Corinthians 3:15-4:1.3-6; Matthew 5:20-26)
Although only thirty-six years old when he died, Anthony of
Padua was declared a saint within a year of his demise. He was recognized as one of the greatest
preachers of his time, so strong that heretics converted after hearing
him. In surprising contrast, St. Paul was
evidently not a forceful preacher. He hints
at this in the reading from II Corinthians that we hear today.
When Paul writes that “our gospel is veiled” but “we are
not discouraged,” he is referring to his inability to convert the whole of
Corinth. Later on in the letter he
reiterates a criticism that “’his bodily presence is weak, and
his speech contemptible’” (2 Cor 10:10). But his
defects as a speaker do not bother him as long as he remains loyal to his
commission. Indeed, he will write of enduring
hardship as testimony to the legitimacy of his message about Jesus Christ.
We too testify to Christ by deeds of love. But let us not be silent about our
motives. An age that speaks sophomorically
about an “altruism gene” needs to hear that if it were not for Jesus Christ, we
would likely behave very differently.
