Wednesday, June 13, 2018
TODAY'S REFLECTION - WEDNESDAY
St. Anthony of Padua, Presbyter,religious, doctor of the Church
1 Kings 18:20-39/ Psalm 15:1-2,4+5,8,11/ Matthew 5:17-19
GOD AND BAAL, WHO ANSWERS PRAYERS?
Beloved, Holy Mother Church celebrates today, the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua. He was an outstanding preacher. He could explain Holy Scriptures so simply. God granted him the gifts of miracles, of tongues and prophecy. The name Anthony in Greek means, " priceless ".
Following the encounters that the prophet Elijah had with King Ahab, Jezebel and the prophets of Baal, they agreed to go into a contest, in our today's first reading. The contest was to determine, whether God or Baal would answer with fire (1 Kings 18:24). The worshippers of Baal started first. They cried aloud, slashed themselves, but no answer (1 Kings 18:28). But Elijah prayed and God sent lightning from heaven to set ablaze the water-soaked offering upon the altar (1 Kings 18:38). God later sent his own Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. Jesus is greater than Elijah. Elijah offered a bull. But Jesus offered himself on the Cross. A sacrifice that is more important than holocaust. What is preventing us from accepting/following the Lord our God?
Friends, Jesus, in our today's Gospel reading said to his disciples, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). Jesus is the end of the law (Romans 10:4). Jesus is to help us to understand and follow/obey the law and the prophets more appropriately.
Let us pray for the grace to choose wisely to worship God, not Baal. We also pray to appreciate the law and the prophets as Jesus comes to fulfill. BE BLESSED.
Fr. Gaa (0206954323/0240308878)