Friday, June 13 2014; Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 363

Reading 1
1 Kings19:9a, 11-16

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter.
But the word of the LORD came to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake— 
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?”
He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD,
the God of hosts.
But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant,
torn down your altars,
and put your prophets to the sword.
I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.”
The LORD said to him,
“Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus.
When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram.
Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel,
and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah,
as prophet to succeed you.”

Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14

R. (8b) I long to see your face, O Lord.

Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.

R. I long to see your face, O Lord.

Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.

R. I long to see your face, O Lord.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. 

R. I long to see your face, O Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 5:27-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you, 
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, 
tear it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
And if your right hand causes you to sin, 
cut it off and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one of your members
than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said,
Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.
But I say to you,
whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)
causes her to commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE

"Anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts." –Matthew 5:28

We who live in the "culture of death" are caught in a raging war for control of our senses. We are continually bombarded with sexual sensationalism. This is a serious problem, because we need to avoid sexual fantasies so as to avoid the possibility of punishment in everlasting fire (see Mt 5:30).

How can we possibly avoid these "near occasions of sin"? We can't drive anywhere without seeing huge billboards flaunting scantily clad women or men. We can't walk onto a public square or beach on this spring day of June without seeing some increasingly exposed display of skin. To avoid sights which could lead to temptation, we would have to be blind! (Mt 5:29)

Let's fight fire with fire. Being in extreme danger calls for extreme actions. If the TV is your problem, cast it out – into the trash. Better to lose a few hundred dollars than your eternal soul. If movies are your problem, cut them out. Better to sit at home than to have your soul rot. If billboards are your problem, pray for those who create them instead of fantasizing about those who appear on them. If beaches are your problem, don't go. Find some "living water" to immerse yourself in (Jn 7:38).

Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. Remember, the Spirit fights against the flesh (Gal 5:17). "My point is that you should live in accord with the Spirit and you will not yield to the cravings of the flesh" (Gal 5:16).

PRAYER: Jesus, I want to be pure as You are pure (1 Jn 3:3).

PROMISE: "I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living." –Ps 27:13

PRAISE: St. Anthony preached the Word of God so zealously that entire cities converted to the Lord.

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