Saint Antony, Abbot (251 – 356)
Psalter: Week I
Green
Saint Antony is the originator of the monastic life. He was born in Egypt: when his parents died, he listened to the words of the Gospel and gave all his belongings to the poor. He lived to be over a hundred years old, and died in 356.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 91: 13-14
The just will flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a Lebanon cedar, planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Collect
O God, who brought the Abbot Saint Anthony to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert, grant, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may always love you above all things. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Hebrews 4:1-5,11
Be careful: the promise of reaching the place of rest that God had for the Israelites still holds good, and none of you must think that he has come too late for it. We received the Good News exactly as they did; but hearing the message did them no good because they did not share the faith of those who listened. We, however, who have faith, shall reach a place of rest, as in the text: And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. God’s work was undoubtedly all finished at the beginning of the world; as one text says, referring to the seventh day: After all his work God rested on the seventh day. The text we are considering says: They shall not reach the place of rest I had for them. We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.
Responsorial Psalms: Psalm 77(78):3-4,6-8
R/ Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
The things we have heard and understood, the things our fathers have told us, these we will not hide from their children but will tell them to the next generation:
The glories of the Lord and his might and the marvellous deeds he has done, that the next generation might know it, the children yet to be born.
They too should arise and tell their sons that they too should set their hope in God and never forget God’s deeds but keep every one of his commands,
So that they might not be like their fathers, a defiant and rebellious race, a race whose heart was fickle, whose spirit was unfaithful to God.
Gospel Acclamation: cf.Ep1:17,18
Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May these offerings of our service, placed on your altar in commemoration of Saint Anthony, be acceptable to you, O Lord, we pray, and grant that, released from earthly attachments, we may have our riches in you alone. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mt 19: 21
If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have, give to the poor, and follow me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished for our healing by your Sacraments, O Lord, may we escape every snare of the enemy unharmed, just as by your grace Saint Anthony won glorious victories over the powers of darkness. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus demonstrate unwavering faith in Jesus’ power to heal, exhibiting admirable qualities in their faith — persistence and resourcefulness. They remain undeterred by obstacles, displaying a “whatever it takes” type of faith! It is a faith that is prepared to face challenges head-on to overcome all obstacles. It is the kind of faith that is willing to go to great lengths, even penetrating through roofs, as seen in the Gospel passage. Moreover, this faith extends to others, urging us to cultivate a “whatever it takes” kind of faith in our lives. We can nurture this faith through regular and sincere prayer, along with studying the Scriptures. Additionally, by actively seeking to serve others in need, we put our faith into action, becoming instruments of God’s love and healing. This kind of faith should not only enter through the roof but also exit through the door. A crucial lesson from the Gospel is seen in the paralytic, who enters the building through the roof and walks out, healed and whole, through the door. Similarly, as we approach Jesus, we enter through the roof and exit through the door, fully empowered to bear witness to who He is.