Homily for Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, commemorating the Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua.

📖 Readings

  • 2 Corinthians 4:7–15 – We hold this treasure in earthen vessels…

  • Psalm 116 – I will offer a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the Lord.

  • Matthew 5:27–32 – If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…

✝️ Theme: "Treasure in Clay Pots: Becoming Instruments of Light and Purity"


🌄 Introduction

Today we honour Saint Anthony of Padua, a powerful preacher, a wise teacher, and a humble servant. We remember him not only for helping us find lost things but more importantly for helping us find our way back to Christ. On this day, our readings call us to be serious about holiness — not in a rigid way, but in a way that restores, heals, and frees us.

😄 Story

There’s an old story of someone who prayed to Saint Anthony saying, “Saint Anthony, help me find my keys — again!” Eventually they added: “And while you’re at it, help me find my temper, my patience, and my prayer life!”
Sometimes we lose more than things. We lose focus, joy, integrity… and that’s when the Lord calls us back to what matters.

📖 The Word of God

In 2 Corinthians, Paul says we are “jars of clay”— fragile, imperfect, yet entrusted with a divine treasure. The treasure is Christ’s life within us. We may be cracked by trials, weakness, or sin, but through those cracks, God’s light shines even brighter. We are not perfect, but we are purposeful.

In the Gospel from Matthew 5, Jesus speaks firmly about lust and unfaithfulness—not because He wants to frighten us, but because He values our hearts. He teaches that sin begins not just in action, but in desire, in what we feed our minds and let dwell in our hearts.

Jesus is not telling us to literally pluck out eyes or cut off hands, but rather to cut off anything that leads us away from God. Be it toxic relationships, addiction, dishonesty, or harmful habits—Jesus wants to free us from what pollutes our love.

✝️ The Eucharist

In this Eucharist, we come not as saints but as cracked clay vessels. And yet, we receive a treasure—Christ Himself. He fills our emptiness, binds our wounds, and renews our purpose. In the Mass, heaven meets earth, and even the broken are made whole.

💭 Question for Reflection

What area of my life needs purification or healing?
Am I feeding my heart with what brings light—or with what brings darkness?

🧭 Daily Practical Application

  • Set boundaries with people or things that trigger you toward sin.

  • Ask Saint Anthony to help you find what you’ve lost spiritually—maybe your joy, peace, or purpose.

  • Choose one practical way to live purity today—through honesty, patience, or respecting others.

🌧️ For Those Who Encounter Difficulties

You may feel you’re too broken, too far gone, or too weak. But remember Paul’s words: "We are afflicted but not crushed... struck down, but not destroyed." God works through weakness. Saint Anthony himself faced hardship, illness, and persecution, yet God used him mightily.

✨ What Can I Do During the Jubilee Year?

  • Go to confession – and start anew.

  • Start a small prayer group – even with just two or three.

  • Be a quiet example of purity and mercy in your home or workplace.

  • Help someone "find their way" back to the Church.

🕊️ Pilgrims of Hope

We are Pilgrims of Hope, walking with broken feet but unbroken faith. Like clay jars carrying water for the thirsty, your life—though cracked—can still refresh others.

🇿🇦 South African Touch

In Mzansi, we know how to carry heavy loads in simple containers—buckets, tins, even hands. So too, God carries divine light in simple people like you and me. Don’t count yourself out because you’re not perfect. Count yourself in, because God has chosen you.

🌟 Inspirational Quote

"Holiness is not about perfection, but about saying 'yes' to God — even when you're tired, tempted, or trembling."

🏁 Conclusion

Let us not fear the challenge of holiness. Let us remove what distracts, and embrace what gives life. Through the intercession of Saint Anthony, may we rediscover the joy of living purely and walking closely with Christ.

🙏 Short Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You know my heart.
Shine Your light where there is darkness,
restore what has been lost,
and help me carry Your treasure with faith and humility.
Through the prayers of Saint Anthony,
make me a vessel of grace.
Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Pope Leo XIV: A New Chapter of Hope and Courage for the Church By Fr. Mathibela Sebothoma Photo: Deadline In a moment charged with quiet reverence and global anticipation, the white smoke rose over St. Peter’s Square—Habemus Papam. The conclave of cardinals has elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., as the 267th successor of Saint Peter. He has chosen the name Leo XIV , signaling both continuity with the Church’s past and a renewed commitment to mission in our complex and fractured world. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV is a son of the Americas—North and South. His life has been marked by a deep missionary spirit, intellectual depth, and a pastoral heart. Raised in a devout Catholic family of French-Canadian heritage, he entered the Order of St. Augustine in 1977, professed his first vows the following year, and was ordained a priest in 1982. Educated at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and later awarded a Doctorate in Canon L...
Read more
Image
  Friends of St John Vianney Seminary Host Five-Star Inaugural Memorial Lecture and Fundraising Dinner By Fr Mathibela Sebothoma | Pretoria | 24 April 2025 In what is set to become one of the most distinguished occasions on the Catholic calendar in Southern Africa, the Friends of St John Vianney Seminary will host the inaugural St John Vianney Memorial Lecture and Fundraising Dinner on 27 April 2025 , aligning with South Africa’s Freedom Day celebrations. The prestigious event will be held at Akasia Community Hall in Pretoria , aimed at raising crucial funds to support the seminary’s mission and ongoing upkeep. Taking place just one day after the burial of Pope Francis , the gathering will open with a moment of silence in tribute to the late pontiff, placing the evening in both a global and spiritual context. Project Manager and Event Coordinator, Mr Ndhlabule Shongwe , expressed immense gratitude for the public’s enthusiasm. “Excitement is mounting and reaching fever pitc...
Read more
Image
  Short Homily for Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter Theme: My sheep listen to my voice — A Shepherd of Hope 🪕 A while ago, Fr Phuti Eleazar Moabelo  was invited to bless a kraal full of sheep in Limpopo. One curious sheep followed him as if he were its long-lost cousin. The farmer laughed and said, “Father Moabelo, maybe it hears the Shepherd’s voice in your sermons!” — Let’s hope it wasn’t just Fr Moabelo's cologne! 📖 (Acts 11:1–18; Psalm 42:2–3; 43:3–4; John 10:1–10) In today's Gospel, Jesus says: “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved.” The gate is not just an entrance — it’s a symbol of safety, of welcome, of direction. In Acts, Peter explains how the Gentiles, too, have received the Spirit — a reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach. The Psalm beautifully echoes a deep yearning: “My soul thirsts for God, the living God.” It’s this thirst that drives us toward the gate, toward the Shepherd. ✨ Eucharist Here at the altar, the Good Shepherd...
Read more