If anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  – Matthew 5:41

     In my experience, there are five types of poverty mentality. The Trapped Belief says, “I was born poor and will remain poor for the rest of my life.”

       The Juan Tamad Belief, says, “No amount of effort can make me rich, so I will just be lazy for the rest of my life.”

       The Wish-Ko-Lang Belief says, “My only chance to become rich is to win the lotto or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire show.”

      The Rich-Is-Evil Belief says, “I hate the rich and don’t want to become rich. The rich demean and oppress the poor.”

      Finally, the Con Belief says, “Because the rich are evil, let’s cheat and steal from them so they’ll be as miserable as us.”

     But the Gospel teaches there’s a sure-fire way to become affluent. And that’s to go the extra mile! We don’t just give what we can. We give our very best and never stop improving, never stop growing, never stop giving. This is what Anglican theologian John Wesley meant when he said, “Work… earn… save… give as much as you can.”

      Real wealth is enriching your life so that you can enrich others. Go the extra mile, my friend, and all these things shall be added unto you. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

Pope Francis Says: “When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them — some food, a place in our homes, our time — not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched.”

Bless me, Lord, that I can work, earn, save and give as much as I can.

St. Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

Men in authority do things underhandedly to indulge in their inordinate and immoral passion. These actions sometimes cause the death of an innocent person. This is true of all sin. Sin is a death-dealing reality as it destroys our relationship with God. We need to keep our passions in control lest we fall into serious sin.

1 Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria, 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden, since it is close by, next to my house. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or, if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.” 3 Naboth answered him, “The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral heritage.” 4 Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him: “I will not give you my ancestral heritage.” Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat. 5 His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so angry that you will not eat?” 6 He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’ But he refused to let me have his vineyard.” 7 His wife Jezebel said to him, “A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed! Get up. Eat and be cheerful. I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.” 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles who lived in the same city with Naboth. 9 This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10 Next, get two scoundrels to face him and accuse him of having cursed God and king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11 His fellow citizens — the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city — did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing, through the letters she had sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent the information to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned to death. 15 When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Go on, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you, because Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Psalm 5:2-3, 4-6, 6-7

R: Lord, listen to my groaning.

1 [2] Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my sighing. 2 [3] Heed my call for help, my king and my God! (R) 3 [4] At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. 4 [5] For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; 5 [6] the arrogant may not stand in your sight. (R) You hate all evildoers. 6 [7] You destroy all who speak falsehood; the bloodthirsty and the deceitful the Lord abhors. (R)

GOSPEL

Jesus teaches that the Christian way is the way of forgiveness, not payback. The consequence of revenge in centuries-old conflicts still rear their ugly heads today, especially between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, the Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims in the Balkan States, and so on. And the list goes on and on.

A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path.

38 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

think: We need to keep our passions in control lest we fall into serious sin.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

THE ADVENTURER SAINT

We are back to the series of Gospel readings taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Today we have the wonderful spiritual benefit of celebrating the liturgical memorial of a saint: that of the ever-popular St. Anthony of Padua.

       When a full-length feature film about him was produced some years ago, the many “twists and turns” in his life were highlighted in the narrative. His life was portrayed as exciting and dramatic, even to the extent of having the elements of action and adventure.

       It’s worth recalling a few of such “twists and turns.” Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195, Anthony at the age of 15 joined the Augustinian Monks of Coimbra, where he was ordained priest. In 1221, when the relics of five Franciscan martyrs were brought from Morocco to Portugal, he had an ardent desire to follow in their footsteps. He then transferred to the Franciscan Order, and after some time was sent to Africa to preach to the Muslims. However, he was soon afflicted with a severe illness, and a few months later he had to return to Portugal. The ship in which he sailed was driven off its course and landed in Sicily. From there, Anthony went to Assisi, where he met St. Francis. Eventually Anthony was discovered for his gift of preaching and teaching theology. He spent the last years of his life in Padua, where he died at 36 years old.

       It all somehow connects with today’s Gospel message. As Jesus revisits and revises the law concerning retaliation (the famous “an eye for an eye”), He raises the bar with an almost completely new teaching on non-violent, passive resistance. Such is the disarming forcefulness, the “violence” of the peace and generosity which Jesus advocates, along with its totally countercultural character.

     St. Anthony of Padua was certainly without the violence of a revolutionary, nor with the bravado of an action star. His was that of a man of God, a follower of Jesus’ radical teaching, a saint. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: What is it in St. Anthony of Padua’s life do you want to imitate? Pray to God for that grace.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of St. Anthony of Padua. May his life inspire me to be a non-violent disciple in the world. Amen.