Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot
(Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2: 23-28)
The indigenous woman was praying in front of the Black Christ in the Cathedral Basilica of Esquipulas. She had candles lit around her as she adored the redeemer. The woman could be seen as imitating Christ who gave new expression to religious devotion in his time. The gospel today relates the reaction of the Pharisees to Christ’s new way.
The issue at hand in the gospel is Sabbath observance. The law stipulates almost complete rest with as little exertion as possible on the seventh day. If one didn’t have food available, that person should not eat until the day passed. Jesus, always respectful of the Sabbath, nevertheless authorizes his hungry disciples to pick grain for eating on the holy day. How could they celebrate the Sabbath without food. When the Pharisees object, Jesus declares that he has authority over how to observe the Sabbath.
Today we celebrate a saint who practically institutionalized a new way of adoring Christ. Rather than praying in church, Anthony went into the desert to overcome the power of Satan over himself and through prayer over the world. We do not have to follow him into the desert as we imitate his devotion to God through constant prayer.
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