13 June 2025 - Homily for Friday of the 10th week in Ordinary Time - St Anthony of Padua - 2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Anthony of Padua was born just 13 years after Francis of Assisi at the end of the 12th century. He started his vocation in the Church as an Augustinian monk, but later became a Franciscan Friar.  We know that St Anthony of the patron saint of find lost things, but we might not know why he has this distinction. That patronage is rooted in a story from his life as a monk. He had a book of psalms that was very important to him. Besides being a hand scribed book before the era of the printing press, Anthony had many notes and commentary written in the book that help him in his teaching of novices to the Franciscan order. One of those novices decided to leave the order before taking his vows, taking Anthony’s psalter with him when he fled.  Anthony prayed for its return, and not only got the psalter back, but the novice returned to the order as well!  Not only is Anthony of Padua the patron saint of things lost we lose by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, but Pope Pius XII named him as a Doctor of the Church in 1947, primarily for his scholarly work and zeal for evangelization and preaching the Gospel, which contributed significantly to the development of Franciscan spirituality. The Church bestowed upon him the title "Evangelical Doctor," emphasizing his deep connection to the Gospel message. 

Paul, in his writings, calls the followers of Christ to believe in the glory and beauty of God’s kingdom. But, there is a paradox in our existence here on earth as well. In very poetic language, Paul compare us to fragile earthenware jars, but that the treasure that these jars contain comes from God, not from our own devices and our own efforts. In this world, we are confronted with suffering and death, which makes this present existence here on earth difficult and not glorious appearing at all. The world looks at things a certain ways, in ways that are perhaps confounded by our faith. The truth of our faith can seem a paradox at times, but we are called to follow our faith and to grow in greater understanding.