Daily Reflection Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

Today’s Scripture readings illustrate two people discerning an important decision in their lives. David is a young, unassuming shepherd belonging to no special social class. Yet, God loves what God sees in David: open, honest, and obedient. David fights Goliath to save the Hebrews from the Philistines. He uses his own prowess to defeat the giant man, thus saving the Israelites. This account does not give us any description of emotional fear within David. In his heart, he knows what God wants him to do, so David accomplishes the deed.

  In the gospel, Mark poses another kind of problem: Is it morally better to cure a person of a physical malady or obey a religious rubric? Instead of addressing this debate with Jesus, the Pharisees keep silent. Only after the healing do they speak ill of him to the authorities.

  Actually, we can infer that both David and Jesus are discerning. For David: “Should I take on this person who is twice my size or relinquish God’s invitation to save my people?” In the gospel Jesus also knows what his Father wants. Yet, there is the dilemma: ingratiate myself with the Pharisees or cure sick people? We know from these two Scriptural references today that we all need discernment in our day to day lives. 

God calls each of us to discernment to save people from harm, from sin, from suffering and oppression. Like David and Jesus, are we willing to endure whatever suffering comes with our call to serve? Becoming an instrument of God’s peace within ourselves, our families, our brother and sister migrants, the homeless, the unemployed requires our hope, courage and love. All these gifts and virtues were given to us in the sacraments. Today’s scriptural invitations are to remind us to be conscious of our call to be prophet. Our contribution to world peace is to live it within our hearts and in our daily lives.

 Liturgically, today we are remembering Anthony of Egypt. Few people are called to his lifestyle in the desert. Anthony had his own struggles combating evil in his life. Yet, his steady commitment to God in responding to the call to prayer and service to others saved him from the powers of evil. Our response to God is not to imitate someone else’s lifestyle. God created each one of us as “originals.” So, we contemplate how God wants us to use our personalities in responding to the invitation: “Love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart and soul. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Your beliefs don’t make you a better person.

Your behavior does.--Anonymous