Memorial of Saint
Anthony, Abbot
(I
Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51; Mark 3:1-6)
Aristotle taught that a soldier best exemplifies the
virtue of courage. He saw the warrior’s overcoming
the fear of death to fight for the homeland as the essence of bravery. In today’s readings his ideal would be realized
in David who takes up the challenge of Goliath to defend the honor of
Israel. Thomas Aquinas gave the model of
courage a different flavor. Since he
understood union with God as the ultimate goal in life, martyrdom became the
highest way to practice courage. In
today’s gospel Jesus demonstrates such courage as he heals the invalid on the
Sabbath despite the vicious contempt the cure will draw from the Pharisees.
Anthony of the Desert, today’s patron saint, exemplifies
another kind of courage. He gave up
everything he had to live most of his life in solitude. This meant overcoming the fear not of death
but of living an unfulfilled life. He
forsook the commonly satisfying experiences of family, comforts, and human accompaniment
to deepen his spiritual relationship with the Lord. In doing so, Anthony provided Christianity a
model of holiness.